Journalists like to blame the current level of toxicity on talk radio and social media. The mythology goes that in the Golden Years before Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich poisoned politics professional journalists ensured that political discourse was conducted with a certain level of civility. The latest chapter of this myth says that there are now two types of writers--trained professionals who follow ethical and professional guidelines and amateurs empowered by Blogs, Facebook and Twitter who have heightened the toxicity far beyond ways that Rush or Newt could have envisioned.
Like most myths, this one is largely bunk. If you think that mainstream journalists follow professional standards, or hold each other accountable, take a look at this cartoon from the Star's David Fitzsimmons.
That's right. Republican Governors as goose stepping, MAGA hat wearing Nazis marching their states into a COVID grave because Donald Trump orders them to "Do your duty." Is it possible to be more offensive than that? Well, if you look closely, it CAN get more offensive. Notice the shape of the grave? It's actually an underground room--and if you have seen Schindler's List, you will recognize that the Nazis are walking their states into a gas chamber.
Real professions police themselves. I'm waiting for someone in the media to speak out against this unbelievably offensive depictions of these Governors....I'm not hopeful, but I a waiting.
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