Deliberations

I have watched from afar the publicity failure of BC electoral reform referendum and now the US Health Bill affair. Chris Corrigan gives yet another example of how the truth is immorally distorted to support conservative views. I am increasingly convinced that the public sphere (in the English-speaking world at least) is indelibly poisoned by propagandists and irresponsible media who will act immorally to justify and defend a public stance. Habermas, Rawls, Bohman, Elster, Chambers and other deliberative theorists can wax lyrical with their ivory tower platitudes about "public reason". The deliberative enterprise, like the passive resistance movement, is a silly irrelevance to the majority who have learned that rhetoric and propagandist tyranny offers more power today than ever before. Most conservatives are very nice people. Sure, they tend to abhor change, take comfort in institutions, adhere to rules-based rather than negotiated norms, and view knowledge in absolute rather than relative terms. Many place personal choice and free market ahead of community concerns. But they carry on civilly nonetheless. But these very traits leave many conservatives intolerant or dismissive of others and uncommitted to common welfare and equality. So they gravitate to right-wing media that amplifies and reifies differences in our society. This media cements the loyalty of its followers by distorting the news further to inflame emotion and anger to the extreme. While most of my friends simply ignore sensationalist and aggressive media, many otherwise very nice conservatives fall for it hook, line and sinker. And then echo what they witness as the Truth to strengthen their beliefs and commitment to the media that serves them. Most people are still informed by traditional radio, TV and newspaper sources, but modern broadcast techniques and advertising make them much more persuasive. Online media access has the potential to inform us better about the range of perspectives on various issues. But many conservatives gravitate to one-eyed outlets that distort the truth even further in the absence of any vestiges of public media regulation. I haven't used the term "right" or "left" here. So much of the media brings out the worst in people, no matter what side of politics you stand. I'm feeling very despondent today. The means are here to help people make a healthier life, a healthier society and a healthier environment. But the poisoning of the public sphere continues to spread, to our peril. leunig cartoon used without permission

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Posted by Ron Lubensky on 21 August 2009 at 09:23 AM | Link