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Propaganda vs. Legitimate Commentary 2/23/2014 9:25:44 AM
How often do we mistake "spin" or propaganda for an actual analysis of a news event?
Since I've aged, I've been watching presidential debates on a regular basis. I'm always amazed when network commentators interview spin doctors from both of the major parties to learn who won. It's their job to twist any sense of reality into a pretzel of its former self. An example would be when a Republican insisted George W. Bush waxed Al Gore in one of their debates. This may have been the one where Gore sighed audibly at something Bush said and received a thorough tongue-lashing from the mainstream press.
The most recent example would be a government prediction that the economy would lose 2.3 million jobs because of the Affordable Health Care Act. Republican spinsters jumped all over that one, claiming the law was hurting the economy. The next day the official who released the report explained that these were people who continued working because they needed their company health care. In other words, instead of retiring they continued to punch the time clock. Under the Affordable Health Care Act they could afford their own insurance and stop being a cubicle
dweller.
I will admit that the conservative activists are better at pretzel twisting than their democratic counterparts. Let's look at The Affordable Health Care Act for instance. How many parents thanked their lucky stars that they'd be able to keep their children on their health care plans until age 26? Those opposed either don't care or don't know about this. Also, if you have a terminal disease, insurance companies can no longer turn you away. And if you have a job flipping burgers at Mac and Dons, the government will help you pay for your insurance. Then there's the ER. I recently heard that people with newly acquired insurance are still going to the ER when they get sick or hurt. Knock it off; the ER is more expensive, thanks to all those slackers who weren't buying insurance. Now they have to or pay a penalty (which may not be high enough). It's against the law for ERs to turn people away if they can't pay. Doctors will also be paid for what they do rather how many patients they treat. Another story I recently heard had one provider charging $35,000 for a broken ankle. You may be only 27, but you can't afford to go without insurance if this guy or gal is your doctor.
Let's get back to the 2.3 million new jobs for a moment.
Rather than hurt the economy, these are openings for young people who were unable to put their college educations to use or even the unempolyed who have been waiting longer than six months for a new job. Employers look at this kind of person as unemployable, and that's not always the case. The president recently met with business leaders to get them to give these people a chance, rather than hurl their resume in the dumpster, like an applicant who was arrested for indecent exposure.
I guess what I'm saying is that we need more critical thinking among the electorate. Just because your grandfather voted for Alf Landon doesn't mean you have to cast your ballot for somebody like the Arizona lawmaker who thought it was a good idea to deny service to gays. Arizona businessmen are already up in arms. Arizona was the state that used profiling Mexican-American citizens as a way to nab illegal aliens. That's unconstitutional, and federal judges let them know in a hurry, but these guys never learn. Kentucky is already thinking about doing the same thing, but this may be one time when Jan Brewer does the right thing. The vote was close enough that they won't be able to pass it over her veto.
