The Washington Post is finally starting to do its job

Post's Dana Milbank blasts Obama on transparency

Three years ago Obama started his run for President.  The mainstream media has been an accomplice in his agenda the entire time.  There are finally some indications that the mainstream media is going to actually do its job.  When Dana Milbank criticizes Obama, the corner may have turned.

Who is more self-righteous? Left or Right

The question is hard to answer as both sides are self-righteous, but in different ways.  The left, or more appropriately the liberal elite, believe that they know more than anyone else and are the only ones qualified to decide what should be done for the planet.  This position is clearly self-righteous.  However, the right believes that their standards are higher and only people that meet those standards should be allowed to decide important items that deal with morality.  Both sides are self-righteous and neither is good for the country.

Facts not emotion in the Evolution vs Creation debate

For too long, both sides on evolution have done nothing to enhance the debate.  Anytime someone talks about the "gaps" in evolution theory they are castigated as being crazy Bible thumpers.  The truth is that there are gaps in the Theory of Evolution or it would not be a theory.  It would be a law.  Without going down the creationist path, a common sense approach is to close the gaps in the theory.  That is what happens in all other areas of science, but in this culturally sensitive issue, no one has been allowed to talk about the gaps without being chastised.  Any discussion about a gap in the theory would have allowed the creationist concept to gain a foothold.  That was not allowed by the left.

In essence, generations of potential scientists that could have closed these gaps were driven in other directions by the left and the right.  At last, with over 15 years of work, a new discovery has moved the debate forward. 

Bridging the Evolutionary Gap; Washington Post 2 Oct 2009

This does not close all the gaps and the article (including the pictures) have highlighted where those gaps still exist.  This is the first time in years of watching this debate that I have seen mainstream media even acknowledge that gaps in the theory of evolution exist.  I commend The Washington Post for bringing these gaps to light, so that future scientists can be inspired to close those gaps without being ostracized.

My only critique of the article is the following sentence:
"The origin of the human species via evolution from earlier primates is beyond scientific dispute."
 This my be true within the science community in general, but reality is different.  If evolution was beyond scientific dispute, it would be a law.  That is how science works.  It is a Law of Gravity not a Theory of Gravity.

Sage advice from a great American President

This is great advice from America's best President.  This is exactly what the country needs to read and heed.  Where did things go awry over the past century?  Get back to the basics of what made America strong.

Going to Jail for Not Buying Healthcare

Joint Committee for Taxation Response to Sen. Ensign

Going to jail for a year and getting fined $25k for not paying for the healthcare insurance that you don't want to buy.  This is outrageous for the government to even think this is legitimate.  Our government is taking control and has no idea how America should work and has worked for over 200 years.  This will cause a revolution if it is ever enforced.

Partisanship Getting Worse: It Is All About Perceived Fairness

It is clear that meaningful and dignified conversations are hard to come by.  A good political conversation without leading to blows, shouting or even profanity is a rare event.  I contend that the media are to blame due to the long-term lack of fairness.  It started back in the 60's, but did not start creating contention until the backlash was initiated in the late '80's.  It has been an ever increasing chasm of civility ever since.

All Americans value fairness.  It is naturally human to want fairness and equity in life.  If the American public viewed the mainstream media (MSM) outlets as fair, Fox News would not be a dominant news channel.  If a person sees events as being fair, there is a sense of decorum.  Even if negative events occur, if they are deemed as being judged fairly, then emotions are held in check.  For instance, if someone steals your car.  You are mad.  If the person gets caught and put in jail, you are annoyed, but your emotions are more subdued.  Justice was served.  That is the same thing happening in today's media.  Americans believe the MSM is not fair and key facts and perspectives are ignored.  Thus, they are mad.  The advent of alternative media such as talk radio, internet and Fox News become the method of delivering justice.

The liberal media controlled the message in the 1960's.  Network news had a monopoly.  They had everything their way.  What the network anchors said was gospel.  No one considered countering that message.  It would not have been appropriate.  Even if there was a counter to the networks, where would it get any coverage, interest or facts to generate a message contrary to the networks? 

Slowly, but surely, another voice was bound to be let loose.  Talk radio and Fox News created news outlets that counter the liberal mainstream mantra.  The success of Fox News proves the pent up demand for this type of news source.  Meanwhile, multiple events added up to announce the end of the mainstream monopoly.  Corrections of mainstream reporting by internet bloggers, breaking stories from internet sources, plagiarism, completely ignored news events and blatantly false reporting created the demise of the liberal stronghold on the nation's thoughts.

There is no longer one authoritative source.  As much as network news would like to be considered the reference point for news, that is just not true anymore.  However, no one seems to have told the mainstream media.  After being in control for so many years, the media are unable to acknowledge or comprehend their lack of power.  The MSM perspective is that things are not fair anymore.  They need their sense of justice restored.  This results in programming and decisions that reflect the MSM view of fairness.  Justice to MSM outlets is to never have to hear about Fox News or Rush Limbaugh unless it is in a pejorative sense.

Thus, the mainstream outlets have only gone more liberal.  They simply refuse to even report on events if they have been scooped by the bloggers or Fox News.  They refuse to acknowledge events that do not fit their ideology.  As such, Americans take notice, they get more upset and MSM ratings continue to decline.  A good solution would be for the MSM to generate a more fair stance on all reportable events, but for some reason that might be considered admitting defeat.  So, the opposite occurs.  The MSM does one of two things: 1) Lash out at the alternative media (which is insulting to the people they want to gain as viewers) or 2) Ignore them in hopes that they will go away (which is even more insulting).  Both are recipes for continued failure.  Americans continue to see even more unfairness and emotions get more accentuated.  The cycle continues and has continued for a decade.  The lack of civility gets worse.

The best way to get civility back is to get the MSM to cover all perspectives in their reporting.  This would also concurrently start to get their ratings back on track.  I am sure they believe they are covering the proper topics, but when three liberal editors review the day's news pages, the outcome will only be a liberal result.  Hire conservative editors and give them authority to make changes and decisions.  This will draw the demand for all perspectives from the alternative sources.  A smart business person would make these changes, but apparently there are no smart business people in charge at NBC, ABC or CBS.

Are we better off?  In short, the answer is: Yes, all perspectives are on display.  However, it comes at a cost.  That cost is civility.

When Bush spoke to students, Democrats investigated, held hearings

When Bush spoke to students, Democrats investigated, held hearings | Washington Examiner

Where is the common sense?  It seems that liberals always get more irrational and demand more reaction to their emotions than do conservatives.  Yes, conservatives were against Obama speaking to a nation of school children, but they did not call for Congressional hearings.