I Want Wednesday

I want this country to develop an attention span that lasts longer than the latest celebrity scandal.

Seriously, folks. There are serious things going on in the world and spending our time wondering what kind of kinky things some little known Republican politician is doing, or who hit whom at the Woods household or if Michelle Duggar is going to try the birth her very own football team complete with defense, offense and special teams is a waste of time.

Yet we seem easily distracted from the real news and the real stories. Of course, when you try to listen to the news and all you get is sensationalism, hype and attack, it's not hard to understand why you want to change the channel. It's not just CNN or MSNBC or Fox, either. I haven't watched our local news stations in over a decade for that very reason.

So I would like for the American news media, from the weekly small town newspaper to cable news channels, to get back to the basics. Report the facts fairly and as objectively as possible. Don't put on an opposing viewpoint without first doing some basic fact checking to make sure they can stand the smell test. As in, if it smells like bullshit, it's probably bullshit.

And I want the American people to exercise their grey matter and listen with discernment. Don't agree with someone on TV or the Internet just because they have a R or a D behind their names. Really pay attention to what they're saying and check the facts. Don't assume because someone has Doctor attached to their name that they are unbiased experts. Check their facts.

Because until we insist on a return to real Journalism, we won't get it. Until we ourselves don't indulge in partisan politics, we will continue to have more of the same in Washington and our state and local governments.

Otherwise, we are all Nero fiddling as Rome burns.