Bits and Pieces

Infidelities of Politicians: Cuomo, Clinton, Sex and Lies. So many themes could be covered here, but I will focus on what sexual peccadilloes are in the press. Cuomo is currently accused of having a history of sexual partners and abuse with women. I have no way to know if this is true or not. The real question is why it matters?

I want my public servants to be well-intentioned and respectful of broad values for the public good. I also wish my public servant to be fully human. I recognize we each have our appetites for food, music, comfort, and sex. But I really do not care what those specifics are unless they are abusive of the rights and freedom of others. Then it matters. Not all these issues matter; what do I care that you prefer seafood over beef, or French cuisine over American? But violence, meanness, abuse and other behaviors are not appropriate with being a public servant. I hold them to a higher standard.

Clinton’s dalliances are his business, and Hillary’s. Not the press. Not yours. Not mine. A blow job in the White House? Why do such sensibilities matter? No damage was done to anyone or anything. It was consensual. Unusual location, but it was not a crime. Leave it alone.

Trump’s infidelities? He is a pig and a consumer of many over the top appetites. Sex is one of them. Gaudy taste in interior décor is another. Hamburgers and Kentucky Fried Chicken are others. But did he hurt anyone? If so, that is a crime. Prosecute him under the law if applicable, if not leave it alone.

If Cuomo or others are prosecuted and found guilty, then take action. Until then we simply don't know the facts. Find them out but until then keep the political manipulations to yourself.

Political Humor: Changing history when your party is out of office; Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, etc. These are the current buffoons and court jesters of our day. The themes of upending political discourse just because your party’s politicians are out of power is hilarious, not serious discussion. Immigration has been a problem for 70+ years; both parties have created and ignored the problem continuously unless they can magically turn it into a wedge issue. If there is a problem, fix it. Both parties join hands to do the right thing. Then rejoice on how innovative and caring humans we can be when we put our minds to it.

Ted Cruz has turned into a bulbous, hairy loudmouth. He is a clever wordsmith but that does not make him truthful or factual. No; he is a politician looking to aggrandize himself and his career for power and money. Plain and simple. He is noise. We need to laugh at him and turn to other matters. Same with Rand Paul. What a joke. Laugh and move on! Trump, too.

COVID’s Truths: wear the mask; social distance; wash your hands; be patient. We will beat this scourge eventually but only if we do what is right continually. I know it is hard. Humans are not built to be right, just stubborn, and selfish.

We are making progress on COVID. Trump’s quick action and follow through helped for a speedy invention of several effective vaccines. This work was done in months, not years. However, planning for appropriate protocols for distribution and administering the vaccines when available was not done. Biden’s administration is filling in those gaps and progress is greatly noted. Not perfect but then what we are now asked to do is being built on a poor foundation of earlier malfeasance.

We know masks work. I will be wearing mine in the future whenever I know illness is being spread, or if I am contagious. If we all did this cold and flu seasons would be short lived.

Role of Propaganda: TV news programs are mostly propaganda machines. Those that differ remain true to journalism’s protocols: facts, chronology, array of opinion, testing what is true and what’s not; presenting the unvarnished facts and context.

When I was a newspaper editor, I invested time in research and articulating the issues drawing public attention. That work created an understandable context for each issue as it came to public attention, handling and solutions were created and then implemented. Each phase of an issue’s life has its own contextual stages of understanding and articulation.

A news organization needs to clearly focus on all of that and help readers understand those functions. The ever unfolding dimensions of an issue are not easy to discern. A journalist’s job is to help readers discern without making up the readers’ minds on the issue. There is a huge difference.

What we have now are news agencies which think on issues, conclude what they feel the outcomes ought to be, and then ignore facts to craft a propaganda piece for public consumption. This is a good summary of Fox News. Fox is not alone. Newsweek, Wall Street Journal and other well known news organizations are guilty of the same thing.

Know the difference between a propaganda machine and a journalism craft shop.

March 4, 2021