straight talk

If It Wasn’t So Sad One Could Have a Good Laugh.



Posted: Thursday, May 10, 2007

by

You may find this article a little brash, harsh or written in fire and flame but after three days this week of dealing with corporate inefficiency and failure and four of five last week you might understand why I am feeling this way. So my apology in advance but there really isn’t any other way to address this issue.

Yes, that’s right, if it wasn’t so sad one could have a good laugh. Now what I wrote about here is just my opinion as I see it daily. You can agree or not. But if you don’t agree at least take a look and consider.

Just what am I speaking about? Well it is about the NEWS, the media and the outlets that spread and disseminate information and call themselves journalistic enterprises or believe they actually do give you the news in a timely and accurate manner each day.

Of course we can't forget those who have their daily, weekly and monthly spots in the big well known and established press outlets or internet sites in the nation and the world.

So, how does one come to that conclusion the title addresses? Well simply put here is an example. Today in the paper they are talking about hard pressed the National Guard and reserves are. As if this hasn’t been an issue for a few years. If this hasn’t been then what is? What major burst of intelligence finally struck home? Do they think the regular military is not as hard pressed? Do they think we actually can defend our own soil if they can even get back here to do so? Do they think our troops have what they need to win a war much less multiple conflicts?

You see in my opinion these purveyors of information have not gotten it right for sometime now. Look and you will see that they don’t ever seem to understand the common man and the issues or evidently really don’t care to. Oh you say that’s how it always has been. Your right but there was a time when a few mavericks were real journalists. Yet, this bunch continues spreading the same sorry responses with no solutions and no changes. They are like the dog in the back window of the cars in the 50 and 60’s just nodding their heads as the car moves along. That is except for one or two here or there who get labelled facists for speaking out.

It is repeated on the elite news casts on television, in those well established bastions of the press and in the elite magazines that have their representative spew the same garbage out each night on any number of “news" programs with the same tired rhetoric. It gets so that you long for the multiple commercials, which run longer then the show itself. They are so proud of giving us the factual news. That’s great but too bad it is a year or too late and usually incomplete. Then they wonder why they don’t sell papers or ratings are dropping. I usually watch them for a few minutes to see if there is any change.

Now the National Guard issue is just one simple thing. You can go down the list. You can speak to any major issue in the press and you get the same sorry, where have you been, we finally think we see the light concern. Rarely do we see them pressing the point and being on the leading edge. Occasionally yes, but in everything they are usually so far in the dark it makes one wonder just what they do as journalists.

You mean they can’t put together a news piece on the plight of the National Guard and present real hard facts. ? It is not like any of us already do not know the facts. I presume this article speaks to that fact alone and the internet today gives you almost anything you want good and bad. So just what is the condition of the Guard? I can accept it may be a national security issue but at least say that much

Yes, the economy, housing, insurance, energy costs, taxes, low wages, spying, greed, jobs, manufacturing, trade deals, health care, a lack of benefits, low wages, unskilled labor, high percentages of high school drop outs, broken families, families that can’t afford college for their children, illegal workers bleeding the system dry, Americans who have to prove they are Americans, excessive profits, exploitation, lobbyists and one could go on and on until you run out of ink.

Yes, as Paul Harvey used to say “and now the rest of the story". Just when do we readers and listeners get the rest of the story?

With the number of major issues today they should be selling papers in droves but the answer is no. Why you ask, in my opinion nothing new.

Now you can go to their editorials and look and you understand how really bad it is. Even the people who write in about things show a lack of knowledge concerning the entire mess because they don't have all the facts. Why, because they respond to what they read in the paper. In the IT world we used to say “garbage in garbage out“. Now it is “garbage in garbage out and that’s ok". It does fill a page.

Well there is an answer to why and those of you who know my work know the answer to that. Yet, I ask this, why even print a paper when you don't seem to be able to address the real issues and causes and impacts? Just where are the hard questions? Just where are the "investigations" that uncover the real story?

So God help us if we have another major disaster. God help us if we need to fight another conventional conflict, God help us when you are one of the ones who find out your job is now in the Philippines, India or Argentina. Don’t look to the paper to shake you and wake you. The alarm in my opinion just won’t go off on time.

So if it wasn’t so sad one could have a good laugh.

 

PS: Just today an article in the St. Pete times is saying a local California Newspapers Outsources its local work to India. No need to be here to write. I guess not but what about perspective and accuracy and never mind a retraction.

Robert T. Melaccio Sr. 2007 Copyright ©2007 Robert T Melaccio Sr.





Robert Melaccio Sr. has worked in the computer industry for 40 plus years in a diversified business and managerial environments. He enjoys freelance writing, giving seminars for young adults and teen groups as well as being an accomplished award winning poet of published poetry. He has worked teaching and as a youth minister. He is married and has three children and three grandchildren.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by David Tanguay
 4 years 259 days ago.
Without the laugh, if one dares to make sense of it all the best place to run the country is from a mental institution. where the inmates can give you an honest report on what is really going on out there.
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» left by 4 years 259 days ago.
Yes, Davis. At lease we still have a few who put it all out there. I just added a PS you may be interested in? Be safe and have a good day.
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