Comments on: The health care debate is testing the limits of the press and American democracy http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/2009/08/09/the-health-care-debate-is-testing-the-limits-of-the-press-and-american-democracy/ Watching the Media from Within Sat, 02 Apr 2011 17:30:12 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The CUNY Graduate School of Journalism » Invoking Thomas Jefferson, Helicopters Crash Above the Hudson and Rats Find Refuge http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/2009/08/09/the-health-care-debate-is-testing-the-limits-of-the-press-and-american-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-158 The CUNY Graduate School of Journalism » Invoking Thomas Jefferson, Helicopters Crash Above the Hudson and Rats Find Refuge Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:34:36 +0000 http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/?p=82#comment-158 [...] Preston invokes Thomas Jefferson in this True/Slant post about the healthcare [...] [...] Preston invokes Thomas Jefferson in this True/Slant post about the healthcare [...]

]]> By: CUNY Graduate School of Journalism » Invoking Thomas Jefferson, Helicopters Crash Above the Hudson and Rats Find Refuge http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/2009/08/09/the-health-care-debate-is-testing-the-limits-of-the-press-and-american-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-149 CUNY Graduate School of Journalism » Invoking Thomas Jefferson, Helicopters Crash Above the Hudson and Rats Find Refuge Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:47:13 +0000 http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/?p=82#comment-149 [...] Preston invokes Thomas Jefferson in this True/Slant post about the healthcare [...] [...] Preston invokes Thomas Jefferson in this True/Slant post about the healthcare [...]

]]> By: cally http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/2009/08/09/the-health-care-debate-is-testing-the-limits-of-the-press-and-american-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-12 cally Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:34:33 +0000 http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/?p=82#comment-12 This article makes a lot of sense. It is too bad that hysteria and fear have gotten usually sane people to expect the very worst. We need to consider how devastating it is not to be covered by health care, put ourselves in the place of those without, and come to some type of compromise where there is still choice within the health care system but not at the expense of excluding other Americans. This article makes a lot of sense. It is too bad that hysteria and fear have gotten usually sane people to expect the very worst. We need to consider how devastating it is not to be covered by health care, put ourselves in the place of those without, and come to some type of compromise where there is still choice within the health care system but not at the expense of excluding other Americans.

]]> By: Michael Preston http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/2009/08/09/the-health-care-debate-is-testing-the-limits-of-the-press-and-american-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Michael Preston Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:51:35 +0000 http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/?p=82#comment-11 Greg: I agree and one of the interesting things about Jefferson is how he he obviously held somewhat contradictory views on a wide range of issues. Greg: I agree and one of the interesting things about Jefferson is how he he obviously held somewhat contradictory views on a wide range of issues.

]]> By: deleted account http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/2009/08/09/the-health-care-debate-is-testing-the-limits-of-the-press-and-american-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-10 deleted account Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:39:05 +0000 http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/?p=82#comment-10 Thomas Jefferson was a brilliant man which is why many of his observations are still very relevant today. However, it has to be noted that when he was running for president against John Adams, the campaign waged by both sides would be considered terrifyingly obscene even by today's standards. Back then, it was perfectly acceptable to get so personal, a candidate could expect to be called "the son of a whore" and being labeled an "atheist" was the ultimate insult. In fact, the 1800 presidential election is widely considered to be the nastiest in U.S. history. Thomas Jefferson was a brilliant man which is why many of his observations are still very relevant today. However, it has to be noted that when he was running for president against John Adams, the campaign waged by both sides would be considered terrifyingly obscene even by today’s standards.

Back then, it was perfectly acceptable to get so personal, a candidate could expect to be called “the son of a whore” and being labeled an “atheist” was the ultimate insult. In fact, the 1800 presidential election is widely considered to be the nastiest in U.S. history.

]]> By: Michael Preston http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/2009/08/09/the-health-care-debate-is-testing-the-limits-of-the-press-and-american-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Michael Preston Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:15:32 +0000 http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/?p=82#comment-9 Tim: I agree that things are almost certainly more civil now than they were then in re: criticism of public officials, but, to a certain extent, that's not my primary concern. I'm more concerned with the seeming indifference to basic accuracy. As to what do we do, we need to reward good reporting with our wallets and make sure we publicly challenge outlets that repeatedly publish wrong or inaccurate information. That won't fix everything, but there needs to be some kind of accountability when errant information continually filters out of the most prominent publications in the country. We're seeing some more vocal public editors as the NYT and WaPo now, so I think we need to make sure we're letting them know what we think. Rick: Thanks for your comment and I agree...we have politics as bloodsport entertainment now. It's like some bad reality show that just happens to have a lot of real world consequences. Tim: I agree that things are almost certainly more civil now than they were then in re: criticism of public officials, but, to a certain extent, that’s not my primary concern. I’m more concerned with the seeming indifference to basic accuracy.

As to what do we do, we need to reward good reporting with our wallets and make sure we publicly challenge outlets that repeatedly publish wrong or inaccurate information. That won’t fix everything, but there needs to be some kind of accountability when errant information continually filters out of the most prominent publications in the country. We’re seeing some more vocal public editors as the NYT and WaPo now, so I think we need to make sure we’re letting them know what we think.

Rick: Thanks for your comment and I agree…we have politics as bloodsport entertainment now. It’s like some bad reality show that just happens to have a lot of real world consequences.

]]> By: Rick Ungar http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/2009/08/09/the-health-care-debate-is-testing-the-limits-of-the-press-and-american-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Rick Ungar Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:01:39 +0000 http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/?p=82#comment-8 Michael- nice post. Good to see they are turning out some good minds at the University of Virginia! I think what would disturb Jefferson the most is your point about the press. You are on the money. To answer timharper's question, as posted in the comments above, the press was vitriolic in the early days of democracy. However, the argument was based in reality and fact - not the nonsense utilized to form the basis of debate in the media today. There's nothing wrong with intense and, even, angry debate when engaged in by people who feel strongly on a subject based on the facts at hand. That is not what we have today. Today what we have is show business. Michael- nice post. Good to see they are turning out some good minds at the University of Virginia!
I think what would disturb Jefferson the most is your point about the press. You are on the money. To answer timharper’s question, as posted in the comments above, the press was vitriolic in the early days of democracy. However, the argument was based in reality and fact – not the nonsense utilized to form the basis of debate in the media today. There’s nothing wrong with intense and, even, angry debate when engaged in by people who feel strongly on a subject based on the facts at hand. That is not what we have today. Today what we have is show business.

]]> By: timharper http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/2009/08/09/the-health-care-debate-is-testing-the-limits-of-the-press-and-american-democracy/comment-page-1/#comment-7 timharper Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:44:00 +0000 http://trueslant.com/michaelpreston/?p=82#comment-7 So what's the answer? Where do we go for news? And wasn't the press, and the level of criticism of public officials, even more vitriolic during the early days of the democracy? So what’s the answer? Where do we go for news? And wasn’t the press, and the level of criticism of public officials, even more vitriolic during the early days of the democracy?

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