Comments on: Updated — EDITORIAL: Does the United States have a free press and a healthy democracy?

By: War in Context - NEWS & VIEWS ROUNDUP & EDITOR’S COMMENT: July 6

War in Context - NEWS & VIEWS ROUNDUP & EDITOR’S COMMENT: July 6 — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:27:59 +0000

[...] Comments alan stuart on Updated — EDITORIAL: Does the United States have a free press and a healthy democracy?Yigal Arens on NEWS & ANALYSIS & EDITOR’S COMMENT: Let’s push up the price of [...]

By: Buush Mohamed

Buush Mohamed — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:26:20 +0000

If people are really misinformed, its the american people, i really pity them for they believe what ever they see in there partisan media, can they google every issue they doubt.

By: alan stuart

alan stuart — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:35:12 +0000

the basic truth was answered above in the way the questions were posed.

a more troubleling fact that was NOT reported by either type of medium [press or tv] was the increase in support to isreal of $ 155 million snuck into the recently signed “emergency” war supplemental bill.

i think this brings it close to three billion dollars a year. BILLION

in comparison to what to Palestine?

now why is a question like this posed to people?

and why in the world do we keep sending them yet more and more new and sophisticated weapons with which to kill and maim?

i’m sorry i just do not understand.

By: Henry Pelifian

Henry Pelifian — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:10:36 +0000

This is a great fundamental question that Mr. Woodward has posed and it ought never be taken for granted:

Does the United States have a free press and healthy democracy?

Our elected leaders seem to be out of touch with the American people on the Middle East. How many other major issues are they out of touch on or opposing the American people on? Does major legislation often benefit the American people or special interests? There seems to be no real debate on the issues. The great instrument of television, the public airwaves, is usually not used to air major issues, promote debate, provide information and facts for a healthy democracy to flourish on a daily basis.

Most Americans get their “information” and “facts” from television, which unfortuately does a poor and inadquate job. In fact, it is not the responsiblity of television news and programming to provide the necessary information on which a healthy democracy can exist or sustain itself. The print media often does a far better job in providing the facts and information needed for the American public. Alas, the American people are usually living on a diet of junk news on television for information.

By: Carol Elkins

Carol Elkins — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:52:05 +0000

Let me say what I think this way:
If Americans were asked, “should we be fair to both sides?” They would say “yes”, because it feels good to think that we are fair.
If they were asked: “Should we defend Israel against terrorists?” They would say “yes”, because it feels good to be against terrorism.
Will they pick up the inner contradictions that lie beneath the question that they were actually asked? Highly unlikely.
Do poll questions allow for nuanced response? Absolutely not.

By: Carol Elkins

Carol Elkins — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:06:10 +0000

Political positions, and media positions, are dominated by a tiny minority of fear mongers. In this case, the fear of Muslims, aka Palestinians.
However, it is also true that the polled public, in large measure, IS terrified by Muslims. The polled public just hasn’t put two things together, i.e. giving Palestinians a break and appeasement of Muslims. The “American People” has disqualified itself as a viable source of opinion. “They” are ignorant and like it that way. That enables politicians and media moguls to do whatever they feel like doing.