I've often said that should the world blow up in a nuclear mushroom, the event will be covered in a 2-3 inch clip on page 3 in my local newspaper. And in traveling here and there, I've found the local paper only points to a major trend.
Now newspapers have problems. People don't read, don't like to read. They get their news from TV or online. So newspapers have to feature stories that grab people. Passing by a news stand, their eye catches a new revelation about Tiger's affair(s), so they drop their money and take a paper. The front pages have local pictures and stories, what used to be called feature stories and were confined to the "women's section."
On the other hand, online you can click on Google News and discover all sorts of stories with thorough coverage. Indeed, I frequently read a brief newsclip on page 2 or 3 and go immediately to Google to find out more. The papers have run me to the internet!
Haiti, the Middle East, and the antics of Washington provide enough to cover the front page every day. And they are far more likel y to affect each of us than Tiger or Miley or whoever. Sure, put in a tabloid story above the fold where it will catch the eye. But there's lots of room left on Page One to lead us into vital stories about what may change our lives.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Polarization
I hate the polarization of our politics, especially in Congress.
Consider: Each party stakes out a position ahead of time. They refuse to retreat. Consider health care. The Democrats produced a 2000 page bill, which many at first admitted they had not read. Why such a comprehensive bill anyway. Why not take each section and approach it by itself. Then they should negotiate publicly with C-span (or a kid with a cell cam) putting it online.
Politically, I'm a pragmatist. I want to see people sit down, define problems, develop possible solutions, then try to fix them. Defining the problem should be the hardest part. For example, many Republicans will deny that a health care problem exists. If they admit one, it is much smaller. But even if so, why would not the Democrats sit down with them and fix that part of it. It's fascinating to me that the existing Medicare is predicted by some authorities to go bankrupt in a few years. Why not determine whether that's true, then fix that before adding on expenses.
Certainly there are people lacking easy access to health care. It seems to me that using the existing healthcare structure and carefully expanding it to cover certain areas would reduce bureaucracy, which I personally hate. But only after solving the funding for existing medicare.
Pragmatism, people, practicality! In health care and all things.
Consider: Each party stakes out a position ahead of time. They refuse to retreat. Consider health care. The Democrats produced a 2000 page bill, which many at first admitted they had not read. Why such a comprehensive bill anyway. Why not take each section and approach it by itself. Then they should negotiate publicly with C-span (or a kid with a cell cam) putting it online.
Politically, I'm a pragmatist. I want to see people sit down, define problems, develop possible solutions, then try to fix them. Defining the problem should be the hardest part. For example, many Republicans will deny that a health care problem exists. If they admit one, it is much smaller. But even if so, why would not the Democrats sit down with them and fix that part of it. It's fascinating to me that the existing Medicare is predicted by some authorities to go bankrupt in a few years. Why not determine whether that's true, then fix that before adding on expenses.
Certainly there are people lacking easy access to health care. It seems to me that using the existing healthcare structure and carefully expanding it to cover certain areas would reduce bureaucracy, which I personally hate. But only after solving the funding for existing medicare.
Pragmatism, people, practicality! In health care and all things.
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Cajun Curmudgeon
Curmudgeon indicates a grouchy old cuss. Most folks don't see me that way, but I got as many gripes as the next fellow. So, one thing I'll do here is gripe. But not the only thing. I'll feel free to say any fool thing I want...grouchy, cheerful, or whatever. Let's get on with it. Begin with some curmudgeonly gripes:
1 - What's with the Weather Channel's promise to report the weather every 8 minutes? Well, most weekdays, it does. But not at night and not on weekends. Why can't I flick over during a commercial and find out if a snowstorm or tornado is on its way? Instead, they run fascinating weather stories about boats at sea, people lost in the snow, or whatever. Look, everybody else interrupts whatever they're doing for commercials. Why can't TWC interrupt to bring us the weather?
2 - Similar gripe about Headline News. They're best in the early mornings and don't do a bad job of reporting what's happening in the world. But they get bogged down repeating stories. Let 'em go to Google News that has thousands of stories. Then they get into those blamed focused shows run by perpetually shocked women. I have a major suggestion!!!
MAJOR SUGGESTION: Somebody start a weather news netword that works like an AP wireservice. Whenever you tune in, you'll find the latest and most important news with the local weather every 10 minutes. That means news that affects the lives of most people or threatens to do so. NO stories about who some movie/entertainment "star" slept with or cussed out last week. And I don't care what Katie's current hairdo is. I do care where major congressional legislation is and how the war in the Middle East is going.
More gripes and suggestions whenever I get around to it.
1 - What's with the Weather Channel's promise to report the weather every 8 minutes? Well, most weekdays, it does. But not at night and not on weekends. Why can't I flick over during a commercial and find out if a snowstorm or tornado is on its way? Instead, they run fascinating weather stories about boats at sea, people lost in the snow, or whatever. Look, everybody else interrupts whatever they're doing for commercials. Why can't TWC interrupt to bring us the weather?
2 - Similar gripe about Headline News. They're best in the early mornings and don't do a bad job of reporting what's happening in the world. But they get bogged down repeating stories. Let 'em go to Google News that has thousands of stories. Then they get into those blamed focused shows run by perpetually shocked women. I have a major suggestion!!!
MAJOR SUGGESTION: Somebody start a weather news netword that works like an AP wireservice. Whenever you tune in, you'll find the latest and most important news with the local weather every 10 minutes. That means news that affects the lives of most people or threatens to do so. NO stories about who some movie/entertainment "star" slept with or cussed out last week. And I don't care what Katie's current hairdo is. I do care where major congressional legislation is and how the war in the Middle East is going.
More gripes and suggestions whenever I get around to it.
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