Information Age Doesn't Equate To Communication Age
Since the dawn of the internet, the pundits and press have dubbed this the "information age." This was supposed to be the new age of knowledge, where the latest news would be available 24/7, broadcast from around the world. This new nirvana would spread democracy, enlighten the masses and make governments more transparent than ever.
So, what the hell is the problem? What about this new age has made our political system pucker up like a newly arrived inmate on the maximum security yard? How did the availability of information create an unmanageable information beast that is filled with opinions, faux faq, greater government secrecy and expanded stupidity?
I have a theory, much like everyone else in the i-Nirvana, and I want to share it with you, much like everyone else in i-Nirvana as well. The problem is that we as a nation of simple folk have too much information on our hands at once, and we don't have enough time to digest said information before we are bombarded with the rebuttals, the reprisals, the repercussions and the recycling of that information, thus leaving us staggering around like zombies trying to keep track of what we are mad about in the last thirty minutes.
Once upon-a-time, back in the analog age when the nation had newspapers, newsmagazines and a couple of T.V. networks that provided all the news, there would be time to think about what was reported, usually at least twelve or more hours until the next printing of the paper, 24 hours until the next newscast and a week before the next Newsweek. We could re-read the story, discuss it with neighbors, friends, family, churchfolk, co-workers, etc. and come to some kind of conclusion as to the what the information meant and what we should do with it or about it.
Now, that's nearly impossible with the instant soup of news and talking heads constantly blaring away, 24 hours a day. And, we are not the better for it. Just examine the recent political situation as we go into the midterm elections for Congress. Somehow, the Republicans believe that they are entitled to a return to control of the Congress, and shockingly, voters seem to believe that they may deserve this as well.
It hasn't even been two years since the Republicans got the boot for the way they have created our economic mess and the simple folk around the country are already thinking about bringing them back for more gridlock, more lies and more of the same game they have always played.
However, the way the news is crammed down the throats of the simple viewers, they are simply unable to clear their heads long enough to think about what the implications are of placing the Republicans in control of the Congress once more. If they thought about it they would realize that the Republicans stand for nothing but helping the rich get richer, keeping the poor ever poorer and claiming that they are for downsized government which really means they want to see all government services turned into private corporation contracts-something that is so dangerous for this country that it would do more to damage us than any terrorist cell ever could.
The Democrats are barely doing any better. Under Obama, the country still practices the illegal and immoral renditions, we still defend holding onto suspects without trial or possibility of release even when the courts order them to be released, we have expanded our ridiculously expensive campaign in Afghanistan, we didn't leave Iraq, we gave the banks trillions and the unemployed the shaft and all for what? What have we gained?
Well, we don't have time to even consider that point before it is racked with the rebuttals, the reprisals, the repercussions and the recycling of that information, thus leaving us staggering around like zombies trying to keep track of what we are mad about in the last thirty minutes.
So, what the hell is the problem? What about this new age has made our political system pucker up like a newly arrived inmate on the maximum security yard? How did the availability of information create an unmanageable information beast that is filled with opinions, faux faq, greater government secrecy and expanded stupidity?
I have a theory, much like everyone else in the i-Nirvana, and I want to share it with you, much like everyone else in i-Nirvana as well. The problem is that we as a nation of simple folk have too much information on our hands at once, and we don't have enough time to digest said information before we are bombarded with the rebuttals, the reprisals, the repercussions and the recycling of that information, thus leaving us staggering around like zombies trying to keep track of what we are mad about in the last thirty minutes.
Once upon-a-time, back in the analog age when the nation had newspapers, newsmagazines and a couple of T.V. networks that provided all the news, there would be time to think about what was reported, usually at least twelve or more hours until the next printing of the paper, 24 hours until the next newscast and a week before the next Newsweek. We could re-read the story, discuss it with neighbors, friends, family, churchfolk, co-workers, etc. and come to some kind of conclusion as to the what the information meant and what we should do with it or about it.
Now, that's nearly impossible with the instant soup of news and talking heads constantly blaring away, 24 hours a day. And, we are not the better for it. Just examine the recent political situation as we go into the midterm elections for Congress. Somehow, the Republicans believe that they are entitled to a return to control of the Congress, and shockingly, voters seem to believe that they may deserve this as well.
It hasn't even been two years since the Republicans got the boot for the way they have created our economic mess and the simple folk around the country are already thinking about bringing them back for more gridlock, more lies and more of the same game they have always played.
However, the way the news is crammed down the throats of the simple viewers, they are simply unable to clear their heads long enough to think about what the implications are of placing the Republicans in control of the Congress once more. If they thought about it they would realize that the Republicans stand for nothing but helping the rich get richer, keeping the poor ever poorer and claiming that they are for downsized government which really means they want to see all government services turned into private corporation contracts-something that is so dangerous for this country that it would do more to damage us than any terrorist cell ever could.
The Democrats are barely doing any better. Under Obama, the country still practices the illegal and immoral renditions, we still defend holding onto suspects without trial or possibility of release even when the courts order them to be released, we have expanded our ridiculously expensive campaign in Afghanistan, we didn't leave Iraq, we gave the banks trillions and the unemployed the shaft and all for what? What have we gained?
Well, we don't have time to even consider that point before it is racked with the rebuttals, the reprisals, the repercussions and the recycling of that information, thus leaving us staggering around like zombies trying to keep track of what we are mad about in the last thirty minutes.
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