The Good/Evil of a Free Press

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Birthplace of Independent Conservatism

The following quote, short as it may be, is instructive in its truth.
"To get the inestimable good that freedom of the press assures one must know how to submit to the inevitable evil it gives rise to." --Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 1835

A free nation, in order to remain free, must forever preserve and protect a press unencumbered by government regulation or oversight. This, by necessity, must include the internet.

On the other hand to remain a free people requires members of a free society remain ever informed and vigilant. The dangers in a free press rest in the fact there are those who do not report the news {truth} but rather their interpretation {twisting} of the news {facts} in order to further their own agenda. The evil of which Alexis de Tocqueville spoke lies in in the foregoing statement.

Opinions developed by one after analyzing a set of facts is the responsibility of each individual in a free society. Given that facts can be interpreted differently by different {and intelligent} individuals, based on their experience and biases is why we have diverse opinions and views on all issues.

The point I suppose is to read and digest information from all sources and viewpoints. Conservative, moderate, and progressive. Then honestly evaluate and decide for yourself what makes sense.

Conservative, moderate, and progressive reporters of the news have all been guilty at one time or another of editorial excess. Sorting out the truth requires work and a desire to remain free to enjoy the liberties given us by our founding documents.

In this independent conservatives view that is how one "submit(s) to the inevitable evil it gives rise to."

You may be interested in this informative article. You the thinker be the judge.

Cross posted to the Left Coast Rebel

Discussions @ Memeorandum

Comments

  1. AnonymousSun Jan 23, 12:14:00 PM EST

    The 'free' press is so often the corporate press - which we have seen exemplified by the swine flu and global warming hype.

    It is almost a given that people will allow their opinions and proclivities to influence the way they write and the particular slant they will put on an article. That's free speech and let the buyer/reader beware.

    I take exception, though to the purchasing of 'news' space in the media by corporations whose budgets exceed those of national governments.

    There was a time when newspapers depended largely on circulation - the purchase of newspapers supplying most of their revenue. Now, they are far too reliant on being mouthpieces for the corporates.

    How we can put a stop to that, I don't know - apart from halting globalisation and then, re-enforcing our monopolies and mergers laws which prevent companies from acquiring more than a decent percentage of the market.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Les CarpenterSun Jan 23, 11:49:00 PM EST

    PERHAPS it is time to return to a less intrusive government. A government that is restrained by respecting the integrity of the constitutional restraints put in place by our founders.

    By the same token perhaps we need to rethink the influence both unions and corporations have on our body politic.

    There is no question, at least in my mind, that too big to fail is a myth, and crony capitalism... government subsidy to businesses must stop.

    At the same time the military industrial complex must be reigned in and our interventionist foreign policy begun by Woodrow Wilson and accelerated after WW needs to be reevaluated.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

RN USA no longer accepts comments. The information presented is for reflection, contemplation, and for those seeking greater understanding and wisdom. It is for seekers and those with an open mind and heart.

Namaste


Top Posts

What is The Purpose of Life | Insights from Steve Jobs, OSHO & Buddhist Teachings...

Image
When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick: every time a stick is thrown, you run after it. Instead, be like a lion who, rather than chasing after the stick, turns to face the thrower. One only throws a stick at a lion once. Milarepa   “Just as it is known t hat an image of one's face is seen d epending on a mirror b ut does not really exist as a face, s o the conception of "I" exist d ependent on mind and body, b ut like the image of a face t he "I" does not at all exist as its own reality."    Nagarjuna   "Thanks to impermanence, everything is possible."       Nagarjuna
Read more

Obama on the Campaign Trail...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny For a President that has talked about unifying in the past it certainly seems this segment of the Presidents recent remarks focus more on divisiveness than unity. I guess politics are, after all just politics. It is more about building a base, telling people what you think they want to hear, and getting reelected than it is about telling the truth. Unfortunately this can be said about both party's. The President: "The Republican plan comes down to this, ‘Dirtier air, dirtier water, less people with health insurance.” h/t: Real Clear Politics "My plan says we’re going to put teachers back in the classrooms, construction workers back to work," President Obama said at a campaign event today. "Tax cuts for small businesses, tax cuts for hiring veterans, tax cuts if you give your workers a raise –- that’s my plan." "The Republicans plan, Obama says, boils down to this: 'Dirtier a
Read more

A Liberals View of OWS... From the New Republic

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny OWS, the movement lacking leadership as well as defined objectives having a reasonable chance of success. The longer it grinds on the more it look like a bunch of misfit radicals looking for the free ride. However, on the other hand there are certainly those who have a clear vision as to what and why Wall Street needs to change. The reasonable people supporting OWS are doing so to end crony capitalism, corporatism, the unethical practices of banking executives and mortgage lenders, as well as government bailouts of businesses. They also recognize corporate lobbyist must become a extinct group. Given the majority of people would tend to agree with the above someone ought to be asking the question, why doesn't the reasonable Tea Party folks and the reasonable OWS folks come together and pool resources so to speak? Tea Party individuals want more fiscal discipline and restraint so as to bring balance to national fis
Read more

Tantra, Chakras, Kundalini & the Big Bang...

Image
When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick: every time a stick is thrown, you run after it. Instead, be like a lion who, rather than chasing after the stick, turns to face the thrower. One only throws a stick at a lion once. Milarepa   “Just as it is known t hat an image of one's face is seen d epending on a mirror b ut does not really exist as a face, s o the conception of "I" exist d ependent on mind and body, b ut like the image of a face t he "I" does not at all exist as its own reality."    Nagarjuna "Thanks to impermanence, everything is possible.   Nagarjuna
Read more

Thoughts for Conservatives/Libertrians With Open Minds...

Image
by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Birthplace of Independent Conservatism Liberty -vs- Tyranny Intellectual honesty... A concept worth aspiring to. Unfortunately the philosophic regimen and discipline to achieve this lofty goal has been lost on the current generation of self serving and single issue driven politicians. Make no mistake folks the preceding statement applies to both parties. Neither can get past ideological differences to solve common problems. This site markets itself as an Independent Conservative/Libertarian blog with a strong focus on Constitutional and Randian principles. Understanding the full depth of either requires a bit of study as well as an open mind. Both are attributes that our founding fathers, and the principles that they stood for, require. Maybe this site was naive in its inception as it launched its maiden voyage. It believed, incorrectly so, that conservatives and liberal alike understood the basic and central concepts that lead to the birt
Read more

Progressive Collectivism... The Motivation

By: Les Carpenter III Rational Nation USA All political movements start with a cause. That is to say they have a purpose and an agenda which the supporters of the cause believe will make their society a better place to live. History has shown that societies with the most intrusive and leviathan governments are the least effective and restrict the liberties of individuals too the greatest degree. The classical liberals, whose philosophy of governance was anchored in the  Enlightenment  and The Age of Reason , believed in maximum liberty for the individual. They were wary of government, believing it was as much a force for evil as good. Classical Liberalism was about the individual, the rights of the individual, and the belief that the individual was not a vassal of the state, but rather should be the master of the state, limiting it's interference in the lives of the people. I have been accused of not being able to recognize liberty or individualism if it bit me in the ass.
Read more

Taxing the Sale of Your Home

BY: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Birthplace of Independent Conservatism Liberty -vs- Tyranny From the inbox at RN USA . I am sure there are many who remain unaware of this provision of ObamaCare. E-mail is reproduced here in full with appropriate linkage. Do you know that if you sell your house after 2012 you will pay a 3.8% sales tax on it? That's $3,800 on a $100,000 home etc. When did this happen? It's in the health care bill. Just thought you should know. SALES TAX TO GO INTO EFFECT 2013 (Part of HC Bill) REAL ESTATE SALES TAX So, this is "change you can believe in"? Under the new health care bill - did you know that all real estate transactions will be subject to a 3.8% Sales Tax? The bulk of these new taxes don't kick in until 2013 if you sell your $400,000 home, there will be a $15,200 tax. This bill is set to mess with the retiring generation who often downsize their homes. Does this stuff make your November and 2012 vote
Read more

Race Baiting Andre Carson Style

Image
by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Birthplace of Independent Conservatism Libe rty -vs- Trya nny Rep. Andre Carson - Democrat Indiana Allegations of racism being leveled at the Tea Party have been there since the beginning. Anyone who denies the existence of racism, whether from the right or the left is either naive or blind. Both conservatives and liberals should come together and denounce any form of racism, wherever it rears its ugly head. However, the use of race baiting to further the political agenda of an individual or group is as reprehensible as actual racism. Rep. Andre Carson recent remarks with respect to the Tea Party amount to nothing more than over heated race baiting at its worst. From Politico : A top lawmaker in the Congressional Black Caucus says tea partiers on Capitol Hill would like to see African-Americans hanging from trees and accuses the movement of wishing for a return to the Jim Crow era. Rep. Andre Carson, a Democrat from Indiana who
Read more

A New Oppurtunity for Progressives and Leviathan

Image
by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Birthplace of Independent Conservatism Liberty -v s- Tyranny I am again wondering, as I often do... Really, this "wondering affliction" is a curse. Perhaps the psychological association, the sociological association, the AMA, and Leviathan might find a way to push, and ultimately pass legislation that will grant privileged special class status to those suffering from said affliction. Of course this would allow for special consideration (employment and otherwise) for those so afflicted by this damaging psychological/medical affliction. Naturally much of the cost would be at tax payers expense. But I digress. Being a strong advocate of the right of peaceable assembly I shall take the liberty of assuming the majority of American citizens are also advocates of peaceable assembly for the redress of grievances. Being a strong advocate of orderly conduct when in the pursuit of protesting perceived grievances I must ask the following. G
Read more