when the looting starts, the shooting starts

[pharriso]

BBC, like CBC are biased news organizations. If not both fake news.

Not trying to be a conspericy theorist. Let’s be fair, who’s reporting is correct, and unbiased? I highly doubt even the Guardian or Democracy Now has zero agenda, or zero neutrality. At least they seem to publicize trump facts.

I'm sorry, you're saying the BBC is either biased or fake news? Based on what?

If you want to debate, let's see some facts. I suggest you check out the following chart:

The origin is https://www.adfontesmedia.com/static-mbc/

One of the factors in polarization of viewpoints is that people are using Media whether social, print or TV that supports their viewpoint. So for example if you are right leaning you might watch Fox spews which feeds right wing views, or facebook will show you stories that you "might be interested in" whether true or not.

It's much easier to debate when you only have one hopefully true version of the news. (& not alternate facts as Trumps communications director called them...)

[h20hamelan]

I suppose the comment about BBC and most others including left Democracy Now, they publicize gov facts. If the gov is controlled by Trump, its his facts. So maybe not directly, indirectly fake.

“Money is power, money is the unit of freedom. This has always been true in human history no matter where you live.”

Government and democracy are not for money, but for the people.

[elanfan1]

BBC is well known to be left leaning. There have been many calls to correct what is meant to be unbiased public ally funded broadcasting.

[Bud English]

People see, read, and hear things and evaluate information based on what they already believe to be true. If you think that a country as large and diverse as the US should be governed as if it was one big city, with the same taxes, wages, gun laws, emission standards, leash laws, and the like, you might just think that all media leans right.

If you're at the other end of the political spectrum, you might think the pundits at Fox News are all Commies.

All you can do is keep an open mind, fact check what you hear as best you can, and rely on the sources that show a track record of getting things right most of the time. I'll admit that it's not always easy to do.

Note: if you want some fun (?) check some of the posted "facts" just from this thread.

[Slowtus]

BBC is well known to be left leaning. There have been many calls to correct what is meant to be unbiased public ally funded broadcasting.

The BBC has been accused of being both left and right leaning over the years.

[h20hamelan]

Government sponsored news outlets publish what that government does and says.
Unbiased is unbiased, there are two sides to every story.
The world has gone corporate first, people second.
I think Sweden is trying

[vincereynard]

People see, read, and hear things and evaluate information based on what they already believe to be true.

"You can’t convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it is based on
a deep-seated need to believe.” Carl Sagan

[mbell]

"You can’t convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it is based on a deep-seated need to believe.” Carl Sagan

IMO it very much this in the US. Last weeks events weren't a result of what was said since November or since Trump was elected, they are a result of well over a decade of political games.

Politicians and media on both* sides have been using tactics that have meant political party become more of personal identity than your actual political beliefs. So it more like a sports team, where you going to blindly support them no matter as their "your team".

This has been intentional by the politicians as it a way to motivate voters and ensure they vote for the "right side". The two party system plays nicely into this, making it very easy to create a us v them environment. The issue is that this tactic really resonates with small number of people.

When you couple that with the internet, which is great tool for connecting people with a fringe interest (like Lotus Elan's) and giving them a much bigger voice, you can end up with these groups where those with extreme ideas can form groups and spread there crazy theories, to the point they become main stream. Which can result in what happened last week, espicially when politicians join those groups.

I don't have have much hope of things significantly improving as I don't think a lot of the politicians are prepared to change tactics and put anything but themselves first. So I very much fear for a when a competent version of Trump comes along.

* I am not saying both sides have used it in equal measures.

[h20hamelan]

I have always though, the USA to have proper checks and balances. Canada still does not, so this has all certainly opened the worm hole to me.

[nomad]

I think that anyone who believes we have any established media today that can be trusted is fooling themselves. If you watched how Sanders was treated by the media before the primary and how little was said of the DMC sabotaging his bid you would clearly see the medias agenda. It's not necessarily some big conspiracy....just the joint conspiracy of protecting the insane wealth of the media owners! You only have a half dozen players in that field who get heard.

FDR saved capitalism with 100% income tax and a few social programs. The country, over night, went from too broke to fund anything to having unlimited amounts of money to mount a huge military response to second world war. A war caused by the lack of money world wide. There is a lot of stress in the world once again. Are we doomed to continuation of socialism for the rich and cut throat capitalism for everyone else. I think the stress of that might bring about another global mass suicide like the 30''s did.

[nomad]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUGh1Su7-ok

[Bud English]

* I am not saying both sides have used it in equal measures.

I think that you've summed it up nicely, but you didn't need the disclaimer. I think it's been pretty equally and effectively done, both openly and covertly by both parties and the media swings in whichever direction the money leads. Neither party is doing the people's business.

That may not be where "playing both sides against the middle" comes from but it pretty well describes what's' been going on for a long time. It now comes down to the fringes at both ends of the spectrum growing to the point that the middle ground is the minority, and that is dangerous.

Damn, I wasn't going to enter this conversation.

[elanfan1]

I hear that Adam Johnson the guy seen carrying off Nancy Pelosi’s Lectern has been arrested in Florida.

His lawyer says he won’t be taking the stand.

[Slowtus]

I hear that Adam Johnson the guy seen carrying off Nancy Pelosi’s Lectern has been arrested in Florida.

His lawyer says he won’t be taking the stand.

Does he drive a Lotus?

Whoever started this hissing contest needs a hobby other than fomenting unrest on a site which provides its own unrest, based on the cars.

Really, give it a rest, if I want to view politics it won't be on this site - can we get back to the cars please?

[h20hamelan]

I have an elise.
I am looking at a esprit 1987, supposedly Colin had passed by then (here’s the conspericy again) he has been spotted in Northern Brazil with Pol Pot and Jerry Garcia and has sold them both proper Elan’s. So life’s good with the head buried in the sand eh!
As neither are true lotus, both are post 1983. My cat and I, will search a new home for this sort.