Monday, June 4, 2018

Just Say No

I was visiting with one of my Democratic friends, and she said "Scratch any Republican and they will automatically complain about the lamestream media."

The irony of this is that, she said, since the viewership of Fox News exceeds the viewership of CNN and MSNBC - combined - that Fox is now the lamestream media.

She went on to say Republicans laugh at their allegiance to Fox, while Democrats have little allegiance to CNN or MSNBC.  Democrats are not united by CNN or MSNBC, but they are united in their revulsion at Fox . . . interesting!

It is well-known that we choose our political cocoons.  Republicans choose Fox, while Democrats choose anything but Fox.  But, she said political cocoons are as addictive as street drugs.  "Just say no" doesn't work with drug addicts or partisans.  We have twelve-step programs for drug and alcohol addiction, but how about our addiction to partisan news?

How do we get Republicans to watch less on Fox, while Democrats watch more on Fox?  She strongly agreed with my practice of a news-free day each week.  It builds discipline.  I agreed!

But, news-free is not the same thing as non-partisan news.  The best we can do is balance partisan news between Republican and Democratic news sources.  Or, as she styled it – “Break out of your cocoon!  Watch both!”