I am a self-proclaimed news junkie. I have four different news outlets report to my phone as soon as something "interesting" happens. This can be great, as it keeps me informed, but it also adds something dangerous to the news - money.
Though I do not believe in the "fake news media," there is considerable money to be gained by reporting entertaining news 24/7. The 2016 presidential election was the mainstream media's biggest hit, and it feels as though they are trying to live up to that success by keeping constant tabs on the current government. This seems like a great thing, they are keeping tabs on an administration that has integrity in question. The failures of Democracy are in plain view, but are we setting ourselves up for this failure?
The problem with entertaining news is that the news they report on isn't about celebrities. It is about politicians and other individuals that have real impact on the day to day lives of the media consumer. The separation of people from real consequences has been exacerbated by the internet. For example, anyone can comment on the internet about Rihanna's weight, but no one would dare walk up to her and say it to her face. There is no consequences to a large number of our actions and, therefore, that mindset may be spilling over into real life.
This is not just for the people that tried to "meme" Donald Trump to the presidency either. This is for the people watching politicians at home and saying to themselves, "that guy who punches people out will surely shake things up!" But will purposely voting violent people into government truly shake things up in a positive way? Are you really voting with your mind or with your inclination to see things fail?
Failing politics are a sure way to get people to listen, because it starts to make them nervous. I'm not sure about you, but I make the worst decisions when I feel like I'm backed in a corner. Perhaps the constant stream of negativity in the news is actually exacerbating the problems we have with our politics already, because it is not providing viewers with enough education (or we don't provide ourselves with enough) to make informed decisions.
Of course, if you've been told over and over again that the system is failing, you'll vote in an opposite, extreme direction, especially if you think "nothing ever changes in Washington." Extremism, to the right or left, is not a safe way to go (ask anyone not in the US). We need to step back from the boxing match they set up on the media (Democrat vs. Republican, Us vs. Them) in order to understand that issues are what matter, not party lines. Until we can start thinking purple, the constant stream of entertainment politics will continue to force us in the wrong direction, apart.
