FAIR AND BIASED: THE SPIN NEVER STOPS- EVER!

Monday, July 24, 2017

THE SPIN NEVER STOPS- EVER!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

WELCOME TO THE NEW REALITY!

by Steve Fair

With the departure of Sean Spicer as White House Press Secretary and Communications Director and the hiring of Anthony Scaramucci, a hard charging former Wall Street executive, it appears President Trump is planning to go even more unconventional in delivering his message to the public. On Saturday, the president tweeted no less than ten times on a variety of subjects. Trump has been vocal of his criticism of the mainstream media, but it appears the new plan is to bypass them altogether. Four observations:

First, the purpose for daily press briefings at the White House is to put their ‘spin’ on what they are doing. Trump is not the first president to use the briefings to defend, deflect and solicit support for his agenda. Every president in modern times used the press briefing as a propaganda tool. Those who say Trump is the first are either ignorant or dishonest. The daily briefing is not required of an administration and Trump may elect to discontinue it.

Second, the press created this credibility situation. It is highly unlikely that Trump would have been effective in cutting out the media if the media had been doing their job. Instead of being journalists, they have been editorialists. The media ‘spins’ every story and that goes for both conservatives and liberals. Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and the rest have become so predictable in how they cover Trump, it’s laughable.

Third, just because Trump is cutting out the middleman, it doesn’t mean the ‘spin’ will stop. The president is always going to present his view as fact. When he tweets out a message, he is ‘spinning’ the facts his way. So long as people understand that. Far too many conservatives treat Trump’s tweets like divine revelation. Blind loyalty to any man- conservative or liberal- is a mistake. As Reagan said, trust, but verify.

Fourth, millennials get their news and information from sources other than mainstream media. Social media, such as texting, tweeting, and Facebook are millennials’ go to source for news. Trump- and Scaramucci- understand that. Scaramucci said, “I have in my pocket a radio studio, a television, and a movie studio.” He’s right. Traditional media is a thing of the past. Anyone with a smart phone can record and report.

The founding fathers understood the importance of a free press. That is why they included it in the first amendment. A free press, by presenting the facts, can be an effective tool to hold government officials accountable to the people. They can help educate and can publicize issues that need attention. The founders understood that. Unfortunately, the modern press has evolved into nothing more than propaganda actors who ‘spin’ the news to fit their worldview. It’s unlikely we will see a return to true professional journalism again. Welcome to the new information age reality where tweeting and spinning are the norm.

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Why FAIR & BIASED?

FAIR- because that's my name and BIASED because the truth is we are all biased- either for something or against it. What's important is that our bias(opinions) are based on right- on absolute truth and not on changing values. What's right cannot change based on a change in circumstances. That is the basis for situational ethics.

Situation Ethics is a theory that is concerned with the outcome or consequences of an action; the end, as opposed to an action being intrinsically wrong. In the case of situation ethics, the end can justify the means. There are no absolutes. Your actions are guided only by your conscience.

A person's view of right can be subjective. But there is a way mankind can definitely know what's right and that is revealed in God's Word- the Bible. As His creatures, we should be biased toward things our Creator is for and biased against those things He is against. May God grant us the grace and understanding to know the difference.

PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

How important is political party affiliation? Some people mistakenly believe only politicians need political affiliation, which they use for support to get elected. They contend the electorate or voters, do not need to be aligned with any Party. These same people often state they “support the man, not the Party.” But whether they recognize it or not, they are supporting a party when they “support the man.”
Most of the Founding Fathers had a negative view of political parties. In his farewell address to the nation, George Washington warned about political parties saying, “However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.” In spite of Washington's warning, political parties were formed anyway.
From 1796 to 1828 the first political parties were formed. Starting with the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, two opposing factions arose. Each was concerned with how the new government was to be organized. The Federalists believed in a strong central government. Their philosophy and beliefs would closely mirror the Democrat Party today. The Anti-Federalists strongly supported the rights of the states. They would more closely align with Republicans today.
Since the mid 1800s, the Ds and Rs have been the two major political parties in our country. Political parties flourished in our government mainly for legislative organization and expediencies sake. Why is Party affiliation important for the average voter? Party affiliation is important for three very simples reasons.
First, party affiliation is the first vote a citizen casts. When a citizen registers as a Democrat, then they are aligning philosophically with the values, beliefs, tenets, and positions of the Democrats on the issues. Party affiliation “defines” you are and what you stand for. It should be taken as seriously as a vote for a specific candidate. Research what each Party stands for, their positions on issues, and then align with the Party that is closest to your values. Copies of both major Party platforms are available on-line or at the local library.
Second, legislatures organize themselves and conduct business using party affiliation. The legislative branch of government is the most powerful arm of the three branches of government. Legislative bodies hold closed meeting of party members, called a caucus to decide on questions of policy or leadership. The Republicans hold a caucus meeting and the Democrats hold a caucus meeting-both at the state and federal level. Unfortunately, conservative, moderate and liberal philosophies do not hold caucus meetings or control the legislative agendas- parties do. When someone says they vote for “the man,” not the party, they fail to understand the power and function of a caucus system in a legislative body. The Party in the majority controls appointments, Chairmanships, the agenda and countless other things through the caucus.
Third, party affiliation should be a matter of conviction, not convenience. Often, people align with a party so they can vote in primary elections or based on family tradition or geographies. Even candidates will align, file and run affiliated with a Party they have little philosophical agreement with. That decision is made out of convenience, not conviction. While no political party is perfect or has all the answers, there is a distinct difference between the two major parties and honest citizens should align with the Party that reflects their convictions.
The Democrat Party is more liberal than the Republican Party. Liberals believe in more government control of business, the environment and speech, using large bureaucratic programs to address real or perceived social ills and constant reinterpretation of the Constitution. Liberals are more inclined to trust government than the people themselves. They see the role of government as a great provider of goods and services and have little faith in the individual to solve his own problems.
Republicans are more conservative than Democrats. Conservatives believe in less government control of the environment and business. They want fewer and less comprehensive government programs to address real or perceived social ills. They believe in personal responsibility and trust individuals to make decisions for themselves. Republicans believe in a strict literal interpretation of the Constitution. A person should find out which of these philosophies best fits their view if they wish to actively participate in the political process.
Party affiliation is important. Washington’s prophecy has come to past, and political parties have been used to empower “unprincipled men,” on both sides of the aisle, but like it or not, political parties are a reality in our system of government. Each concerned citizen should evaluate the philosophy, values, beliefs and tenets of each Party and align their party affiliation accordingly.

FAIR AND BIASED

Monday, July 24, 2017

THE SPIN NEVER STOPS- EVER!

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FEDERAL SPENDING WEBSITE

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PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

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