John Nichols: When networks snub president, democracy is ‘The Biggest Loser’

[hue]

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/john_nichols/john-nichols-when-networks-snub-president-democracy-is-the-biggest/article_7eae7274-52ed-54ec-8b61-67bc346f416c.html

Only 36 percent of Americans participated in the Nov. 4 elections, which determined the political makeup of the legislative branch of the federal government. That’s a dismal measure of political engagement in the United States, a nation where voter turnout rates have in recent years fallen far below the levels seen in Germany and other European countries.

The Economist’s 2012 “Democracy Index” dropped the U.S. ranking on the list of the most democratic countries to No. 21 — with particularly low marks for popular participation in the political process.

How has the American circumstance so decayed in a nation that once so well understood the wisdom of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s observation that “democracy alone, of all forms of government, enlists the full force of men’s (and women’s) enlightened will”?

There’s plenty of blame to go around. But let’s start with broadcast media that are so indefensibly irresponsible that television networks cannot take time away from their relentless profiteering to present a short address by the president of the United States on an issue that is universally recognized as consequential and controversial.

ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox all declined to interrupt prime-time programming to air President Obama’s Thursday evening address on immigration policy...

[hue]

1. Apathy is a root cause for the erosion of democracy.

[Cal33]

5. Yes. I've long noticed the political apathy Americans are experiencing, and I'd say Democrats seem

to be more apathetic than the Republicans. General ignorance plays a big role. Many people
think that mid-term elections don't matter. Probably more will vote in 2016.

[Fred Sanders]

2. Imperial Emperor Obama needed to be put in his place by the true dictatorial rulers of America, the

Imperial Media Council of America.

Now who is going to inform American folks of this treasonous act by the controllers of THEIR public airwaves?

Bet I know who it will not be.

[fredamae]

3. "Democracy Is The Biggest Loser"

Isn't That they very point of "their" exercise?

The one thing we Could do--but people likely won't; Turn Off/Disconnect MSM.

"Does MSM actually represent Democracy in the new world of Propagandized Media that isn't News anymore but we watch it anyway because it used to be and we can't accept the reality of change that has occurred"?

[world wide wally]

4. It's always disadvantageous when one party thinks the "old rules" are still in place when, in fact,

the rules have changed and the Republicans are more than willing to jump in and benefit from it. I don't believe Americans on the whole actually "want" democracy anymore. Sure, they like the word because it makes them sound all independent, but actual democracy takes too much work and even worse...critical thinking. Just letting someone else do it is so much easier.

[SmittynMo]

6. The media rules the world

When Obama was snubbed on his immigration speech by the free networks, I made quite a fuss and posted here. It was quite frustrating to see that Big Bang had higher priority than the president's speech. It was a kick in the face of democracy, and only confirmed where the priorities were in controlling the media.

To make matter worse, it then amazed me that the same networks bounced their local programming to cover Ferguson. At least that was the case here in St. Louis. (Damn - and because of that I couldn't vote for the performances on The Voice. LOL)


So the bottom line here is:

Prime time TV overrides the President of the United States.
Riots in Ferguson override Prime Time TV.

WTF is wrong with this country? It seems quite apparent to me that the media(local and national) has no conscience.

And who are these idiots making all the decisions?