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Spartakus
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terörist
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Topic: Americans Confidence In Military And Media Falling: Poll Posted: 25-Aug-2005 at 17:25 |
Americans' Confidence In Military And Media Falling: Poll
Any questions? | Washington (AFP) Aug 24, 2005 A new poll made public Wednesday has found a sharp decline in US public confidence that the military and the media are keeping them sufficiently informed on military and national security issues.
The McCormick Tribune Foundation/Gallup poll, which compared public attitudes today with the results of a 1999 survey, found Americans more interested in military and national security news today than six years ago.
But only 54 percent of Americans said the military keeps them well informed, down from 77 percent in 1999, according to the poll results.
Similarly only 61 percent felt the media keeps them well informed on those issues, down from 79 percent six years ago.
"This survey underscores how major events over the past six years have created a dramatic shift in the type of information Americans want and how they receive it," said retired general David Grange, executive vice president of the McCormick Tribune Foundation.
Sixty percent of those surveyed said they did not receive enough information to make informed judgements on military matters.
News coverage on the reasons for going to war in Iraq received low marks.
Of those surveyed, 68 percent said the government had done "only (a) fair" or "poor" job of informing the public on the reasons for going to war. Sixty one percent gave the media a "fair" or "poor" rating.
Moreover, 77 percent of those surveyed felt the military occasionally gives the media false or inaccurate information.
More than half those surveyed (58 percent) said it was important that reporters go to combat zones to provide independent information.
The same percentage said the use of unnamed sources made news stories less believable, but 35 percent said anonymous sourcing had no effect on their judgement of a story.
The number of parents who said they would encourage their children to pursue a military career dropped from 71 percent in 1999 to 62 percent. Those who would encourage their children's interest in journalism also dropped, from 85 percent to 80 percent.
The poll, which surveyed 1,016 adults, had a margin of error of plus or minus four percent. The poll was conducted between May 31 and June 16.
by SpaceWar
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"There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them. "
--- Joseph Alexandrovitch Brodsky, 1991, Russian-American poet, b. St. Petersburg and exiled 1972 (1940-1996)
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pikeshot1600
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Posted: 25-Aug-2005 at 17:57 |
Originally posted by Spartakus
Americans' Confidence In Military And Media Falling: Poll
Any questions? | Washington (AFP) Aug 24, 2005 A new poll made public Wednesday has found a sharp decline in US public confidence that the military and the media are keeping them sufficiently informed on military and national security issues.
The McCormick Tribune Foundation/Gallup poll, which compared public attitudes today with the results of a 1999 survey, found Americans more interested in military and national security news today than six years ago.
But only 54 percent of Americans said the military keeps them well informed, down from 77 percent in 1999, according to the poll results.
Similarly only 61 percent felt the media keeps them well informed on those issues, down from 79 percent six years ago.
"This survey underscores how major events over the past six years have created a dramatic shift in the type of information Americans want and how they receive it," said retired general David Grange, executive vice president of the McCormick Tribune Foundation.
Sixty percent of those surveyed said they did not receive enough information to make informed judgements on military matters.
News coverage on the reasons for going to war in Iraq received low marks.
Of those surveyed, 68 percent said the government had done "only (a) fair" or "poor" job of informing the public on the reasons for going to war. Sixty one percent gave the media a "fair" or "poor" rating.
Moreover, 77 percent of those surveyed felt the military occasionally gives the media false or inaccurate information.
More than half those surveyed (58 percent) said it was important that reporters go to combat zones to provide independent information.
The same percentage said the use of unnamed sources made news stories less believable, but 35 percent said anonymous sourcing had no effect on their judgement of a story.
The number of parents who said they would encourage their children to pursue a military career dropped from 71 percent in 1999 to 62 percent. Those who would encourage their children's interest in journalism also dropped, from 85 percent to 80 percent.
The poll, which surveyed 1,016 adults, had a margin of error of plus or minus four percent. The poll was conducted between May 31 and June 16.
by SpaceWar
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Point #1: It is not the business of the military to "keep us well informed." They have other things to do. That said, we are in an age of public opinion.
Point #2: The media are collectively in the entertainment business these days. There is so much competition that none of them can check sources or research anything. Time is critical, and deadlines will be met to the exclusion of fact or clarity. Coverage in-depth is not cost efficient.
Look at the news networks...by far the most numerous "journalists" are very young, obviously inexperienced info-chicks of attractive appearance (and they get them cheap). This is geared toward ratings, not news. In any event, there are so many graphics on the screen it is distracting, making it more difficult to pay attention to the story of the moment (literally, the coverage IS momentary).
How much confidence, or respect, can one have for that?
Then there is Al Jazeera, Al Quaida's electric beard.
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Jalisco Lancer
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Posted: 25-Aug-2005 at 19:08 |
Repeat a lie many times does not become it in a true....
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Emperor Barbarossa
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Posted: 25-Aug-2005 at 21:24 |
Pikeshoot1600, good point. The news people actually TELL you about what
is going on with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are whomever the heck did
something. The news does care about ratings, look at Terri Schiavo and
Natallie Holloway. The news people care more about making money than
doing their job. If they cared about the people, they would get no
ratings, because most people are stupid and want to know what was
happening 24/7 in the Terri Schiavo case.
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Tobodai
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Posted: 26-Aug-2005 at 00:15 |
I think the media is a reflection of the people. To make an entertainment business you must first have a market. The media perfectly reflects the average American, ignorant about other people, obsessed with shock value, and able to form opinions without any historical or social context but based on knee jerk reaction.
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"the people are nothing but a great beast...
I have learned to hold popular opinion of no value."
-Alexander Hamilton
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Byzantine Emperor
Arch Duke
Kastrophylax kai Tzaousios
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Posted: 26-Aug-2005 at 00:29 |
I have NO confidence in the media whatsoever. Television and most print news services have all turned into either entertainment, blatantly OpEd pieces, worthless rags, or all three (in my opinion).
As for the military, I have confidence in them to get the job done, if they would only be allowed to do their jobs! However, our hamstrung PC president, the leftist military-hating media, and some crybabies in Congress will not let them do the job correctly.
Edited by Byzantine Emperor
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Emperor Barbarossa
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Posted: 26-Aug-2005 at 15:22 |
What are you saying, "Do their job correctly?" Do you mean breaking the
rules of the Geneva Convention? The military does their job bloody
well, people really should stop complaining about 2,000 deaths. Yes, it
is sad, but when you join the military, you know bloody well that you
may go to war you dislike and you may die in that war.
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Tobodai
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Posted: 26-Aug-2005 at 15:59 |
The military does a great job, but you know even a great force led by a cabal of jackasses cant do to well. The only make to make the US military even better than it is is to sack Rumsfeld, all his friends, and the president. The only let down for the military was the lack of postwar planning and the false assumptions they were left to work with.
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"the people are nothing but a great beast...
I have learned to hold popular opinion of no value."
-Alexander Hamilton
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Byzantine Emperor
Arch Duke
Kastrophylax kai Tzaousios
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Posted: 26-Aug-2005 at 18:09 |
Originally posted by Emperor Barbarossa
What are you saying, "Do their job correctly?" Do you mean breaking the rules of the Geneva Convention? |
Um, did I say break the rules of the Geneva Convention? No I most certainly did not. I said that I think the anti-anything military media, the Socialist front in Congress, and the President (who has been hamstrung by meaningless news polls), and now I am adding one - the rogue lawyer groups in the United States, have made it so that the "occupying" forces in Iraq are little more than a police force who are not being allowed to do their jobs as a military force. The "insurgency" is an enemy that does not observe any conventions of war and fights with ruthless and deadly determination. They clearly need to be met with an equally ruthless and deadly military force, not a police force.
The military does their job bloody well, people really should stop complaining about 2,000 deaths. Yes, it is sad, but when you join the military, you know bloody well that you may go to war you dislike and you may die in that war. |
Yes, although the death toll is sad (how many could have been saved if the military does not have to contend with the people mentioned above?), I agree with you here. Too many young people view the military as a quick and easy way to get money for school. It is in part the military's fault for advertising that it is such. However, I am sick of hearing on those pseudo-news channels and on MTV how some former soldiers feel cheated that they had to go to Iraq and risk life and limb "for a war they didn't believe in," etc., when all they wanted was a free education. To them I say get a regular job like the rest of us and work long and hard to finance your own education. Don't join the military unless you are mature and willing to come to grips with the fact that you might be maimed or killed, and that you do not have a choice of what war you fight in or stay out of.
Edited by Byzantine Emperor
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Emperor Barbarossa
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Posted: 26-Aug-2005 at 18:34 |
I was not sure what your side was. I didn't think you were some far
right guy, I just wanted to find out. Please explain the big
"Socialist" front in Congress. I agree with you on their jobs as a
military force. The insurgency needs to get there butts kicked. If we
send some troops to protect the borders, we will not have as much of an
insurgency. The insurgency can just rebuild its ranks easily if they
can get into the country. The insurgents are not as much terrorists as
they are rebels. They have not attacked the US, and only want to kill
the troops right now.
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Byzantine Emperor
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Kastrophylax kai Tzaousios
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Posted: 26-Aug-2005 at 19:30 |
Originally posted by Emperor Barbarossa
I was not sure what your side was. I didn't think you were some far right guy, I just wanted to find out. Please explain the big "Socialist" front in Congress. |
I would hope being "some far right guy" is not necessarily a bad thing!? I would say I am pretty far-right leaning in my views, but not to the point of being irrational, fascist, nazaic, or whatever other terms people come up with to project negativity onto conservative minded folk. I am not a Republican, that is for sure.
Just for my own amusement I like to call Congresspeople like Ted Kennedy, Chuck Shumer, Richard Durbin, Diane Feinstein, Hillary Clinton, and Barbara Boxer the "Socialist" front. In my opinion they are socialist in many of their views and crybabies because of the hysterics and finger-pointing that often characterize their speeches.
Edited by Byzantine Emperor
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Emperor Barbarossa
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Posted: 26-Aug-2005 at 19:57 |
I do not beleive they are "socialist". What i meant by far right was an
irrational, close-minded, Christian to the point of insanity types.
Like our president. The senators you mentioned, if given power, would
probably not make America a socialistic wasteland. Some socialistic
views are actually good, like government provided healthcare.
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Byzantine Emperor
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Kastrophylax kai Tzaousios
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Posted: 26-Aug-2005 at 20:18 |
Originally posted by Emperor Barbarossa
What i meant by far right was an irrational, close-minded, Christian to the point of insanity types. Like our president. |
What does it mean to be "so Christian?" If someone believes he is a sinner saved by the grace of God, and his life is turned around as a result, what is wrong with that? That is what I would characterize as being a real Christian, not "so Christian."
I just don't understand why so many people think that Bush is an ultra-Christian, wacko right wing fascist. Minus the Christian part, if he was the right wing (or left wing for that matter) fascist, we would be seeing something like Mussolini's Italy or gas chambers and SS squads in America. Any person with eyes and a brain can tell that America is nowhere near like this. If anything, Bush is a middle of the road, old school liberal from the 60's. The way he allows polls to influence him and how he calculates his every move to which way the political wind is blowing makes him very similar to Clinton in his methodology. He has been very wishy-washy since he was re-elected. Honestly, I think he has disapointed and alienated his true conservative Christian base.
Some socialistic views are actually good, like government provided healthcare. |
Gonna have to disagree with this one, sorry.
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Emperor Barbarossa
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Posted: 26-Aug-2005 at 20:24 |
What I mean by the so Christian types are the ones who say that people
are going to hell for the silliest reasons. America has a horrible
economy, but is not a very bad country. Bush is definitely not a middle
of the road guy, look at his policies. Bush is not an ultra-Christian,
but he got many people to think this of him because he made himself out
to be one. He has said "I am just a lowly sinner." Is that not
ultra-Christian? He makes conservatives look bad. Luckily, I am a
moderate .
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Byzantine Emperor
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Kastrophylax kai Tzaousios
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Posted: 26-Aug-2005 at 20:29 |
Originally posted by Emperor Barbarossa
Bush is not an ultra-Christian, but he got many people to think this of him because he made himself out to be one. He has said "I am just a lowly sinner." Is that not ultra-Christian? He makes conservatives look bad. |
Ok, I can see where you are coming from here. He has alienated his true Christian supporters and does make genuine conservatives look bad.
Luckily, I am a moderate. |
Good! We need more people like you to reign us righties and lefties in when we start squabbling! You even the playing-field out.
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Emperor Barbarossa
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Posted: 26-Aug-2005 at 20:33 |
I am not a fan of conservatives because of types like George W. Bush. I
think that radicals can ruin a part of the political spectrum. I do
know there are conservatives like yourself who are not wacky. Some
extremist lefties make all lefties look bad. I am a Confirmed Catholic,
but do not hold that the Pope is infallible, as did nobody in my whole
Confirmation class. Yes, I am a Christian, so I do not want any crap
about my being a heathen leftie biggot .
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Byzantine Emperor
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Posted: 26-Aug-2005 at 20:41 |
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Emperor Barbarossa
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Posted: 26-Aug-2005 at 21:08 |
Originally posted by Tobodai
The military does a great job, but you know even a great
force led by a cabal of jackasses cant do to well. The only make
to make the US military even better than it is is to sack Rumsfeld, all
his friends, and the president. The only let down for the
military was the lack of postwar planning and the false assumptions
they were left to work with. |
Yes, good post Tobodai. Didn't notice this. Rumsfeld has offered
his resignation multiple times, and George W. Bush would not let him do
so. The plan for the war was a joke. Even Bush's father said during his
term that an occupation of Iraq would not work.
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Tobodai
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Posted: 27-Aug-2005 at 02:37 |
Rumsfeld is the King of all Douches.
I have never understood the Christian hatred for socialism. I am a total capitalist and its one of the reasons Im no longer Christian. Jesus seems to me like quite a socialist in his views! Be good, donate to the poor, shun material wealth etc. Basically he was against human progress
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"the people are nothing but a great beast...
I have learned to hold popular opinion of no value."
-Alexander Hamilton
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Tobodai
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Posted: 27-Aug-2005 at 03:40 |
from reuters:
In what Fox News officials concede was a mistake, John Loftus, a former U.S. prosecutor, gave out the address Aug. 7, saying it was the home of a Middle Eastern man, Iyad K. Hilal, who was the leader of a terrorist group with ties to those responsible for the July 7 bombings in London.
Hilal, whom Loftus identified by name during the broadcast, moved out of the house about three years ago. But the consequences were immediate for the Voricks.
Satellite photos of the house and directions to the residence were posted online. The Voricks told police, who arranged for the content to be taken down. Someone even removed the street sign where the Voricks live to provide some protection.
Still, it has not been easy.
A driver yelled a profanity at the family and called them terrorists as they barbecued on their patio Aug. 14. Some drivers have stopped and photographed the house, Randy Vorick said.
Last weekend, someone spray-painted "Terrist" on their home. Police, who have regularly patrolled their house since the day after the broadcast, now station a squad car across the street.
Randy, a restaurant manager, and Ronnell, a manager at a staffing agency, have been married 19 years and met as teenagers when they worked at a local McDonald's.
They grew up in La Habra and bought the house three years ago after Hilal moved out so they could be close to Ronnell Vorick's parents.
La Habra Police Capt. John Rees said the department was "giving special attention to the family to make sure they're safe," but declined to elaborate.
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"the people are nothing but a great beast...
I have learned to hold popular opinion of no value."
-Alexander Hamilton
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