Well, I complained before that the press had, through chasing profits and political affiliations, effectively given away its freedom. It is still true. However, it had an effect that I missed, though it is now clear in retrospect.
When a segment of society that has traditionally been tasked with providing a good or service falls down on its job and is patently miserable at it a lot of people start looking around for a solution. This is reasonable and expected. Unsurprisingly during this period of solution seeking some people suggest that the government should toss its hat in the ring and take the responsibility. Who better right?
This happened back in the 1930's. The great depression was in full swing and the Church did not step up to help people, especially older people. Older people really needed (and need) help so solutions were needed. This led to the establishment of the 1935 Social Security Act. The government stepped in and "fixed" it the way the government does. With a centralized, bureaucratic, and expensive solution that is now threatening the solvency of the country.
Well, the press de facto giving up their freedom and doing a lousy job providing us with the truth of what is going on has opened the door to the government coming in and "fixing" it. Oh? What is this fix? Well, simply put the government is now establishing a centralized propaganda office tasked with providing a state approved narrative to the United States and her allies.
It was passed with a rare bit of bipartisan cooperation and signed by President Obama just a few days ago. Senate Bill 2692 very well may represent the beginning of the end of our free press. The press was already spineless so now that the government is going to start presenting an authorized and official narrative it will be even harder for them to counter it.
And when the official narrative is false is when we REALLY want someone to come along and counter it.
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