@bigkid posted:Not saying that spending a ton of money on Amtrak is that kind of spending, just saying that the notion that because of deficits you shouldn't spend money on anything is very narrow focus, we can't just strip everything to the bone so we can balance the budget and then 10 years from now say "okay, now we can spend". What I really wish is that decision making was being based on real data and real information, not on what people believe it is, any kind of policy, whether it is spending, tax revenue/revenue reduction, etc.
Did you see the pie charts I posted above. How many times does corporate owned media ever show anything like that when they invite an endless stream of talking heads arguing opposite sides of verifiable data.? Whomever is the loudest is telling the truth. Whomever they let have the last word is telling the truth. "He said, but she said.............................................." is an actual substitute for the "data and real information" you are referring to. "We'll agree to disagree" is a substitute for data. "Listen to what so and so said........[roll tape]". The more simplistic the story the more newsworthy.
Try this:
1. Pick any cable news hour long show.
2. Make two columns on a piece of paper. Label the left column "Words, Tone, and Optics" and the right column "Substance". Put a check mark in the appropriate column for each segment of an hour show.
3. After the hour is over compare the two columns.
John
