I think there is a good reason why the propaganda system works that way. It recognizes that the public will not support the actual policies. Therefore it is important to prevent any knowledge or understanding of them.
- Noam Chomsky
One of my pet peeves (and yes, there’s a laundry list) is the idea of false equivalence, the conviction that both sides of an argument are equally [insert descriptor here]. Sure, Mr. X on the Right is an anti-democratic, racist demagogue, but Mr. Y on the Left is just as bad. Why? Well, there are two sides to every argument, right? And every action has an equal and opposite reaction, right? Except that this theory really isn’t applicable in a political/ideological sense. If Fox Noise Channel is heavily invested in shilling for Right-wing candidates and ideas, then MSNBC by extension MUST be involved in doing the same thing for Left-wing candidates and ideas. Except that this is by no stretch of the imagination true.
Listening to Jon Stewart’s closing speech at last weekend’s Rally to Restore Sanity, I was struck by his attempt to extend this false equivalence into a something resembling an established fact. In comparing the cable news media on both sides of the spectrum, his argument was essentially that both sides are equally evil. In a macro sense, Stewart’s argument makes some sense, in that hyperbole can and does flourish on both sides. In a micro, day-to-day sense, though, his argument simply doesn’t hold up to scrutiny.
I agree with Stewart that “If we amplify everything, we hear nothing”. The argument that both sides are doing it is simply not true. Fox Noise Channel was set up by a Right-wing ideologue specifically to further the message and prospects of the Far Right. FNC employs several current and former Republican political candidates, it fund-raises for Right-wing candidates, and it’s “fair and balanced” tag line is a propaganda smoke screen. Yes, MSNBC has a proponderance of Left-wing talking heads, but it doesn’t engage in political advocacy and fundraising in the way that FNC does. Nor does MSNBC pursue talking points in the focused way that FNC does. MSNBC, for instance, does not sound as if it gets their marching orders and talking points from the Democratic National Committee or Democratic consultants in the way the FNC does from the RNC and Right-wing consultants. MSNBC talking heads do not hammer home points in the manner of “Do you think the President is a Muslim?”
I suppose it’s tempting to draw this false equivalence, because it makes it seem as if the problem is universal. Drawing that conclusion also helps to create the sense that, since the problem is pervasive on both sides, nothing can really be done about it. In reality, this only enables FNC to continue to exist in their make-up-the-facts-as-needed bubble. I’m not here to tell you that MSNBC is without fault, but you just don’t see see the talking heads on MSNBC shilling for Democrats in the way that FNC “journalists” shills for the Tea Party/GOP and. There is no equivalence, and while you might well question my objectivity as a confirmed and committed Liberal, no objective observer can reasonably claim that FNC displays a commitment to objective journalism.
Until and unless we lose this adherence to the idea of false equivalence and demand that FNC make “fair and balanced” more than mere propaganda, nothing will change. We as a society will not be able to dial things back until we expect- and demand- the truth from those who pretend to provide us with it. Until and unless we begin acting as something more than empty vessels waiting to be filled, nothing will change.
The Rally to Restore Sanity may have struck the perfect note at the perfect time…but that doesn’t mean that it will change anything. That will requires Americans demanding that purveyors of news actually ply their trade and not camouflage the spreading of propaganda in the sheep’s clothing of journalism.
We can hope…but you’ll have to forgive me if I’m not holding my breath.
