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1/ This touches on something I worry about all the time (among the many things we all worry about all the time): the importance of a free press to democratic gov't.
Today's mass firing of journalists prompted cheers from some MSM decriers. That's wrong on many counts.
Today's mass firing of journalists prompted cheers from some MSM decriers. That's wrong on many counts.
2/ On the most basic level, it's wrong because its inhumane.
Cheering people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own?
That's wrong.
That's ugly.
Cheering people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own?
That's wrong.
That's ugly.
3/ But on a broader level, people cheering the collapse of some MSM and local press outlets are wrong because they are cheering for the collapse of accountability.
4/ Right or wrong, good or bad, a free press is an engine of accountability. It reports on people in power, revealing their doings to the people who gave those people power.
Us.
We the people.
Us.
We the people.
5/ Yes -- sometimes the press is wrong. Very wrong.
Or biased.
Or careless.
Or crude.
But sometimes, it's really right.
Sometimes, it exposes dangers and truths.
Sometimes, it holds corruption in check.
That's the nature of a free press.
Or biased.
Or careless.
Or crude.
But sometimes, it's really right.
Sometimes, it exposes dangers and truths.
Sometimes, it holds corruption in check.
That's the nature of a free press.
6/ People screaming about "fake news" sometimes sound as though they believe that a variable press is something new.
It isn't.
Power-holders have been waving their fists at press outlets since the dawn of the American republic.
It isn't.
Power-holders have been waving their fists at press outlets since the dawn of the American republic.
7/ George Washington threw a temper tantrum over a political cartoon (a BIG temper tantrum).
As President, Thomas Jefferson did a lot of grumbling about the Federalist press.
As President, Thomas Jefferson did a lot of grumbling about the Federalist press.
8/ These people knew a basic fact re: a democratic gov't.
The press, an engine of accountability, keeps tabs on elected officials, exposes their wrongs.
As T.Jeff said to G.Wash, representatives far-removed from the eyes of their constituents would be capable of great corruption.
The press, an engine of accountability, keeps tabs on elected officials, exposes their wrongs.
As T.Jeff said to G.Wash, representatives far-removed from the eyes of their constituents would be capable of great corruption.
9/ We're in the midst of something of an accountability crisis at the moment.
Many power-holders seem to feel absolutely no accountability for their actions.
None.
The only hope of enforcing accountability is a free press that can observe and investigate and report to the nation.
Many power-holders seem to feel absolutely no accountability for their actions.
None.
The only hope of enforcing accountability is a free press that can observe and investigate and report to the nation.
10/ Of course, we need to be smart consumers of news.
We need to question what we see in the press, consider what we're told.
But cheering at the failure of newspapers who report things you don't like--that's amazingly short-sighted and dangerous.
We need to question what we see in the press, consider what we're told.
But cheering at the failure of newspapers who report things you don't like--that's amazingly short-sighted and dangerous.
11/ Because someday, when people you don't agree w/are in power, you're surely going to want a free press that can observe & investigate & report on what they're doing.
Threaten or silence the press when you don't like what it reports, & you're closing the door on accountability
Threaten or silence the press when you don't like what it reports, & you're closing the door on accountability
12/ It's inherently anti-democratic.
It deprives you and me -- the people -- of power.
It deprives you and me -- the people -- of power.
13/ I like to end threads on lucky 13.
I've had accountability, accountability, accountability on the brain in recent weeks.
My words here aren't expressing something shockingly new.
But it feels as though they're expressing something that needs to be said.
I've had accountability, accountability, accountability on the brain in recent weeks.
My words here aren't expressing something shockingly new.
But it feels as though they're expressing something that needs to be said.
