Joe Wurzelbacher, otherwise known as Joe the Plumber, is back in the “news.” Why? Is the man an elected official? No. An expert on some topic? No. A representative of some core constituency of the body politic? No. (Unless he somehow got elected leader of Racists for America.)
Why is anything the man has to say considered “news.” Nothing I have to say is considered news. Probably the same is true for you. This is not fair. I am smarter than Mr. Wurzelbacher and better looking, too. How come he gets to be on TV and I don’t?
We have the same problem with politicians. Why are comments made by Michelle Bachman (R-MN) considered news? Is she a leader in her party? No. Is she a standout legislator? No. (Can you name one bill she has written?) Is she a standout thinker on matters political? No.
We are creating these people by providing them air time. They get continued airtime by astounding us, not with their brilliance but with their vacuity.
We have transformed politics into the Goon Show.
Uncommon Sense 
Our media consider “news” anything that’s expected to attract attention, website traffic, and advertiser revenue. (And you’re right, it is the fault of the public – media is just building its business model upon that). And the more airtime the media gives this behavior, the more acceptable and normal it looks, so it can only get worse.
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Comment by List of X — October 13, 2013 @ 11:38 am |
All too true, I am afraid.
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Comment by stephenpruis — October 13, 2013 @ 8:45 pm |
The answer of course is that too many in the public domain are too easily dazzled and distracted by bright shiny objects
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Comment by lbwoodgate — October 14, 2013 @ 8:20 am |