Mis-Information

In America, we often view the world with an individualistic eye.  We are all the master and commander of our own fate.  We are self-made men who believe what we will, and bow before no man.  Perhaps this leads to us trusting our own experiences over what research tells us (“I’ve never been in an accident, and I speed all the time!”).  Yet this self-centered paradigm often ignores common, but important systemic influences.  Even in our society it is easier to think what others think than to go against the crowd.  When given a wealth of media choices, we tend to tune into the one that reflects our own beliefs, or if we do hear information we don’t agree with, we tune it out.

            When I was a child everyone believed in Santa Claus.  I did not.  I don’t know why I was the odd one out, but I just didn’t buy into a fat red man sneaking into my house.  However, in Kindergarten there were many kids who were hardcore believers.  To me, it seemed like every single kid in my class believed in Santa Claus.  There was no way they could all be wrong, and they had all seen him!  Slowly but surely I bought into the myth as well.  When I asked my teacher about this deep existential issue, I ignored her hesitant face and stammering speech, and just heard that yes, Santa did exist.  Thus the bandwagon effect and confirmation bias contributed to me believing in Santa Claus.

            The road to a dictatorship is paved with good intentions.  A Department of Information that is objective is as about as fictional as FOX news being fair and balanced.  Yes, there is a problem with the dissemination of information in this country, but a government run agency is not the answer.  If we really want to change how American media presents news, we need to hit them where it hurts, their profits.  If Americans went on a media strike, only watching foreign news channels and not biased American ones, the programs and information being presented would change.  A department of information would lead to partisan bickering at best and government sponsored manipulation at worst.