But do the media by such practices make sensible government impossible? I think this is so, but only in two indirect ways.
The first is that the media have sufficient power, through repetition of small bites, to excite the fight-or-flight impulse in the politician. And since he is a politician, that will almost invariably mean flight. A politician can thus be easily panicked into abandoning any sensible policy, by a media-created sensation of alarm.
“In these modes it is like a feral beast, just tearing people and reputations to bits,” Mr Blair said.
The second, and more effective way, is in what he implied, not what he stated. Good, or anyway, decent men and women, will not get into government, because they will not put their families through that.
What can I prescribe? Nothing "systemic." Only something profoundly naive. We need journalists who are more honest and decent, and politicians, ditto. |
... is smart enough not to be president. Well at least until our very survival is at stake. Don't worry, we're getting there quickly though. Don't you feel better now?
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