UT Regressing Rapidly

So much of what we see on television and social media news channels just doesn't ring true. It is as if half the population sees White when the other half sees Black.

In civil discourse we are talking at each other and not with each other, and there is no effort to correct that. At least not by many of America's most mainstream news organizations. The most common TV format is to have talking heads yell at each other, stopping the action only to allow an all important ad to run to facilitate overpaying the host and the guests for their 'expertise'.

My local newspaper is a perfect example of what makes me crazy.

The San Diego Union Tribune editorial from Friday, October 20th, which rails against Donald Trump, for the umpteenth time, about how the 45th Commander-In-Chief is a liar, a reprobate is illustrative of their insolence. They accuse Trump of politicizing the issue of who was the most compassionate of past presidents, and insulting one of the widows he spoke with, who happened to be black.

The next day, Trump's Chief of Staff, retired General John Kelly told the truth about what happened. After an incredible news conference where he reeducated the press corps about how these difficult issues are dealt with in a serious and compassionate way, and how he personally counseled Trump on protocol and sensitivity, he made it clear that the politicalization was coming from the democrats.

The UT sees Trump's magnanimous effort to show the nation's compassion to the loved ones of a fallen hero as Black; I see it as White. And during the course of their diatribe they had to use such pejorative language as "pain and division" and "societal scabs". None of which advances the TRUTH of what actually happened but is used as a rhetorical hammer to undermine the duly elected leader of OUR country.

How to explain the unsophisticated and vitriolic GroupThink attitudes of the UT editorial board? Is it a factor of payroll or laziness? Why can't they make their philosophy and positions on the issues clear without pejorative and negative attitudes creeping into the content? And it is not just in their editorials, but throughout the news stories, I detect numerous misstatements of fact, misdirected and inappropriate language and personal opinions injected into news content with relative impunity.

The tone of condescension has spread across much of the entertainment industry, and as news and entertainment have mingled their DNA, it is apparent that insulting your opponent, denigrating them and their family, and impugning their intentions is now the 'New Normal.'

What is so egregious about their attitude is that the UT board ignores the FACT that the whole Presidential sensitivity issue was raised by a press question. Trump didn't brag about anything. He responded to a 'gotcha' question. It is the press that decides what is news and which issue they can USE to destroy Trump. It is the biased press that frames the debate. It is obvious to anyone watching from a neutral perspective, that the press is aiming to raise questions and issues that are geared to taking the 'illegitimate' President down. The press has discovered that in this day and age of instant digital soundbite news stories, when they operate in unison, they can make 'up' look down and 'down' look up.

The problem with modern news journalists and editorial boards is that they want to affect history, not just report it. They believe that it is their duty to change the world, to educate the 'ignorant' and 'unsophisticated' masses to understand and respond to 'The News' and world order as they perceive it.

All we can do as voters, active citizens, and newspaper readers and media dependents, is to use our wallet to affect their business. Which is what is happening; people are seeking and finding alternative sources for information. The ratings for ABC, CBS, CNBC, CNN, ESPN and the subscriptions to major newspapers like the San Diego Union Tribune, are all in free fall. The tide is turning, and the Progressives are finding their political coalitions and their media dominance is regressing rapidly.