Sunday, June 23, 2013

Mainstream Mouthpieces (Where are the Journalists?)

Remember when journalists used to question government officials?  Watching the Sunday morning network news shows it was hard to believe they're staffed by journalists and not paid government public information officers.  

The only reason we're having a worldwide discussion on cyber spying and the elimination of 4th Amendment rights in this country is because Edward Snowden told the world what the United States has been doing.   And as the government officials repeat over and over again how these programs are so carefully monitored and how they've been so successful at stopping terrorist attacks, the morning show hosts almost break their necks nodding in agreement.

Today on This Week, George asked a first-rate question.   Is the United States hacking computers in Hong Kong?   General Alexander didn't answer the question.   And in typical fashion, George didn't press him on it; George never asked for an answer to the important question.   George just let him slide so the General could continue going down the list of government talking points.  

Thank God for the Guardian where there are actual journalists who ask questions and ask for evidence. But apparently NBC's David Gregory thinks that's possibly a federal offense.   He asked Guardian reporter Glen  Greenwald why Greenwald shouldn't be charged with a crime.

Perhaps that is what it's coming to in this country.  Journalists who actually do what they're supposed to do, who question the government, who demand evidence, who don't simply play human microphone stand and blindly accept official spin,  will be charged with a crime.

The true crime is the failure of the networks to aggressively pursue the issue of our secret government and cyber spying years ago.

Since the United States says it can attack computer systems anywhere in the world in the name of national security we certainly can't object with any legitimacy or credibility to any other country taking the same approach.   The implications of that would make for a worthwhile discussion on a Sunday morning show, but that would require the hosts to ask direct questions, ask for evidence and not play national cheerleader.

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