The Assault on Reason

[roni]

From Wikipedia

Gore also suggests [in his book] the average citizen must be proactive in "restoring democracy". He expresses hopes that the medium of the Internet will supersede television and what he argues is its inherent bias, creating a "marketplace of ideas" that has not been present since the replacement of the printed word with mass media.

I think there are foot soldiers on both sides of the assault on reason described by Gore.

What do ya'll think are some of the characteristics of the foot soldiers (including on internet message boards) in this conflict both assaulting and defending reason.

Would you include the attacks over the past couple of decades on the financial and health care security of US families part of that assault (movement away from health coverage as a work benefit, destruction of defined benefit retirement plans, the attempts at the destruction of the Security part Social Security System through privatization)

These are some of the questions we face as we approach the next election. At the foot soldier level, who is signed on either side of the conflct and why?

[Rissask]

This is a good write up from Amazon too, HERE.

In an account that balances theoretical discussion of the foundations of democracy with a lacerating critique of the Bush administration, Gore argues that the marketplace of reasoned debate our country was founded on is being endangered by a variety of allied forces: the use of fear and the misuse of faith, the distractions of our entertainment culture, and the concentrations of power in the national media and the executive branch. In his essay and answers to our questions below, he introduces the crisis he sees, as well as the opportunity for its solution he envisions in the open forums of the Internet.

Those bolded lines are sure true!
It looks like an interesting book. But I also would not be surprised if some of his claims are pretty far 'out there'...is democracy really decaying? Or only because the Dems aren't in the White House?

[roni]

Originally Posted by Rissask

Or only because the Dems aren't in the White House?

Aren't Democrats part of the assault on reason? I don't think either major party in the US is immune from that.

How about the major parties in Canada?

[PlayadelSoul]

Personally, I am glad that Al Gore had the foresight to realize that mass media was coming, and invent the internet as a counter to 24 hour news channels.

Relying on the internet for "news" is like relying on Heidi Fleiss for advice on abstinence. There is no filter on the internet, and many people will believe what they read, as truth. That is an assault on reason.

His biggest problem seems to be with the popularity of the Fox News Channel. As the number 1 cable news organization, I can see why. They don't buy into what he is selling. On the other hand, he doesn't seem to mind using CNN as his personal propaganda machine.

[eccentrictinker]

Originally Posted by roni

Aren't Democrats part of the assault on reason? I don't think either major party in the US is immune from that.

How about the major parties in Canada?

Yes, absolutely!

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by roni

Aren't Democrats part of the assault on reason? I don't think either major party in the US is immune from that.

How about the major parties in Canada?

I tend to think the average citizen is more to blame than politicans in general. Government is for the people by the people, and it's no different up here.

When the majority of people prefer just reading about things like how TomKat are doing or whether or not Nicole Ritchie will do time, and watching crap television and reading crap magazines, what can you expect?

Maybe democracy is wasted on the free.

[MWC]

Originally Posted by Rissask

I tend to think the average citizen is more to blame than politicans in general. Government is for the people by the people, and it's no different up here.

When the majority of people prefer just reading about things like how TomKat are doing or whether or not Nicole Ritchie will do time, and watching crap television and reading crap magazines, what can you expect?

Maybe democracy is wasted on the free.

I agree with this. There is so much power regular old people have, that they have squandered away -- or at least have permitted to atrophy. It doesn't take that much effort to stay informed and engaged. Howard Dean was right when he complained about people down South voting against their own pocketbook interests when they vote for the Republican agenda. But the Democratic party is just as guilty of misinformation-spreading.

[PlayadelSoul]

I think you nailed it, above, Maggie. Democracy is only under attack when one's party is on the losing end of elections. It can't be the fault of the candidates, who make Popsicle sticks seem more attractive by comparison, so they have to find other reasons to explain away their loss. If the public doesn't buy into their agenda, it is the fault of the electorate. There is no way that they can be wrong. To admit so, would be seen as a sign of weakness.

American democracy is fine. People have more options for information today, not fewer. They can form their opinions with more evidence to bolster them. 24 hour news channels allow people to see and hear news from all over the country and the world. The public can hear daily debates on the issues. They can hear from people who were kept out of the public eye by mass media. The power of the mainstream press has been diluted, which is a good thing. Having 3 networks and 10 newspapers deciding what is news and what is not, was not healthy.

Sour grapes. An informed public rejects your ideas, so you blame the messengers.

[TAPPY]

Originally Posted by Rissask

Maybe democracy is wasted on the free.

Riss I like that one !!!

[MWC]

[quote=Rissask;894348]This is a good write up from Amazon too, HERE.


Those bolded lines are sure true!
It looks like an interesting book. But I also would not be surprised if some of his claims are pretty far 'out there'...is democracy really decaying? Or only because the Dems aren't in the White House? [/QUOTE]

Certainly because a CERTAIN Dem isn't in the White House!

With Gore, I do think there is a bit of him not understanding his own flaws as a candidiate at the time, and him trying to process/understand now. I vote Dem for Pres fairly consistently, but I considered both Gore and Kerry to be extremely flawed candidates, with only themselves and their campaigns to blame for their losses.

Still, I go back and forth on the issues Gore points out. Yes, it's a lot of sour grapes on Gore's part. Yet, if only a few thousand more voters had really looked through the W Love Machine and thought through their votes ...
would the country be better or worse, who knows? We'd certainly be in a different place than we are right now.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by TAPPY

Riss I like that one !!!

Kinda like how youth is wasted on the young.
Well, look at the numbers of people who vote in North America elections...we are fortunate enough to have free elections, yet only 50-70% vote, it's pretty sad. But it's human nature to take things for granted.
People get so discouraged by politics, it seems to me....they see all the parties as 'basically the same', in the sense that 'they are all crooks', yet they won't think about voting for a new party because they are stuck in a rut voting for the same old crooks they have always voted for- then complaining about it.

Up here, you got your far left parties (the NDP and the Green Party) and then you have your far right party (Conservatives, not really THAT far right, but for Canada they are) and then you have your Liberals who are somewhere in the middle, and the party usually in power. It's pretty boring really.

I am not sure about Gore's little theory about the Internet:

He expresses hopes that the medium of the Internet will supersede television and what he argues is its inherent bias, creating a "marketplace of ideas" that has not been present since the replacement of the printed word with mass media.

Good luck with that.
Most people are spending their time where on the net? Message boards, blogs, chat rooms, dating sites, Answers in Genesis type propoganda sites, perezhilton.com..... not exactly a marketplace of ideas.
But I admire his positive attitude!