John Stewart Bad for Democracy?!?!?!?!
June 27th, 2006 | by Paul Merda |Hmnnn, over at Dispatches from the Culture Wars Ed Brayton refutes the notion that John Stewart and The Daily Show are bad for Democracy which was recently printed in WaPo. The reason he and his show seem to be such a bad influence is because they actually point out contradictions that come out of the mouths of politicians which makes people more cynical. Cynicism is bad right?
Bill Maher recorded an HBO special a few years ago called “Be More Cynical”. He made the same argument I’m making, that we suffer from a lack of cynicism, not a glut of it. The American people aren’t too cynical, they’re too credulous, too easily taken in by transparent shams wrapped in marketing slogans. As Maher pointed out in that special, we live in a culture where people think that Penny Marshall and Rosie O’Donnell actually shop at K-mart because they do those commercials.
4 Responses to “John Stewart Bad for Democracy?!?!?!?!”
By Liberal Jarhead on Jun 27, 2006 | Reply
Jon Stewart isn’t bad for democracy; he increases the sophistication and resistance to manipulation of citizens, and that’s good. So why would the Post say he was doing something bad?
What Jon Stewart does is bad for machine politics, in which groups with a lot of money buy control of mass media and use them to mislead and manipulate citizens. Who would object? Those groups who are doing that misleading and manipulation, and the “leaders” that are their public spokespersons. What vehicle would they use to try to counteract what Jon Stewart does? Those same mass media. What is the Washington Post? A mass medium. Hmm… As wise people have been saying for a long time, if you want to know what’s really behind almost anything you see happening in politics, follow the money.
Jon Stewart isn’t bad for democracy. Machine politics is bad for democracy. Unless you feel you’re better off as a citizen if you’re deceived and conned than if you have an accurate understanding of what’s going on. So if you’d rather be ignorant and gullible, don’t watch his show.
By Paul Merda on Jun 27, 2006 | Reply
Hell, the main reason I watch the Daily Show is find some of the truth out there. It’s sad that so many of us turn to The Daily Show to get actual news about these corruptions in government… If only the MSM was doing their job and exposing the corrupt and fraudulent practices so many or our elected leaders engage in….
By Lara the Liberal Marine Wife on Jun 27, 2006 | Reply
And you know what George Bernard Shaw said: “The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.”
So long live Jon Stewart!