I love Daily Kos and I expect to read many differing opinions on controversial topics. Blogging is a way to give voice to all kinds of people who aren't professional reporters or journalists. We don't earn a salary for sharing our views.
However, when I go to main stream media for news on current events I expect to be provided with significant meaningful information. I don't want to hear endless discussions about the Duggar family or Dennis Hastert's exploits with his students. I don't give a damn what the Kardashians are doing. Yes, Bruce Jenner was brave to make public his transition to Caitlyn. Report it and then move on for crying out loud! Today when my Cincinnati Enquirer had a big article on Republican Sen. Hughes trying to make bestiality illegal in Ohio, I kind of lost it and sent a ranting letter to the editor. I didn't know that having sex with animals was such a huge pervasive problem in my state. We've been led to believe that sex, scandal, celebrity immorality, and all kinds of deviant behavior qualify as news. With Hillary running, I expect we'll be subjected to all of Bill's transgressions and we will have to hear all about Monica's little blue dress again.
I'm all for gay marriage and the constitutional rights of the LGBT community. Definitely
report the news of changes in laws regarding gender identity, but keep in mind that there are other events happening in the world. My heart breaks for the struggles of transgender individuals who want to be understood, but how many stories do I need on that topic? I get it!
There used to be a big difference between real newspapers and sleazy tabloids. There used to be a big difference between news and prurient voyeurism. Not so much anymore. With the advent of reality TV, we've all been turned into peeping toms. Is who gets a rose on The Bachelor of urgent importance? Is Honey Boo Boo the kind of child we want to emulate? What comes after a show like Trading House Wives loses its ability to cause a stir? Are we so bored that it takes more and more smut to entertain us? Shows like The Voice, America's Got talent, and Dancing With the Stars have a place, but the clones are getting out of control. Quality is better than quantity! These reality shows are cheap and easy to produce. They make bundles of cash for the entertainment industry. This is another example of capitalism on steroids.
With America in a state of decline (income inequality, rising poverty, vanishing middle class, corruption in politics, infant mortality, failing educational system, rising health care costs, drug abuse, gun violence, wars, ISIS, cyber attacks, climate change, etc) it seems like there is more mass media should be doing to keep us informed of real current events of significant importance. Isn't that their responsibility? How can Fox News stay on the air when they lie and distort the truth? Talk radio is a cesspool.
We need more shows and news reports with political leaders from both parties and knowledgeable professionals from all fields who have real solutions to offer instead of ones that polarize us as conservatives or liberals. We need more investigative reporting that exposes corruption where ever it exists. I want to learn about how America compares to other countries in issues like healthcare, gun control, maintaining infrastructure, and developing quality educational systems. For entertainment why can't we have more dramas with some degree of excellence like Masterpiece Theater on PBS? We still laugh at old reruns of I Love Lucy and Bob Newhart show. They didn't need sexual references and crude potty-mouth talk to be popular.
Main Stream media has the genuine capacity to not only inform and entertain, but to elevate the public and to challenge us to think more deeply and more critically about the momentous and consequential events of out times. It can help us refine our tastes and to become more discriminating as we view or read high quality material. Americans need and deserve higher standards in our media!