[wildman]

Every media outlet has a bias

Seems to me there are at least two ways to use the term "bias'
1. A partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation.
In this sense we are all guilty of bias. No individual or human institution is capable of perfect objectivity
2. A willful ignoring of facts and/or empirical evidence that does not support our "bias" in sense 1.
"Prejudice" is probably a more accurate term in this sense.

Which one are you talking about?

---

Last edited by wildman; 08-30-2011 at 05:22 PM.

[wildman]

OK.
I'll throw out my own moral values at least to the extent that they
influence me politically.

Very roughly in order of importance:

1. Bullying - the intimidation and oppression of the weak by the strong.

To me the primary function of any government is to protect the weak from
the strong. A government that does not do so is no government at all. I
think that at it's roots this is what the Arab Spring is about to a great extent.

2. Human life and political institutions are a work in progress.

There is no final answer nor is there one right answer. Good government
is a flexible government always open to changing facts, evidence and
conditions.

3. The individual's life is an end in it's self and not a means to an end.

4. Nature is a community that we are a part of and only a part and not
just a commodity.

This natural community must be protected, as community, or ultimately
human communities will fail as well. I think this is one of the greatest
failings of the modern Western world view and as time goes on will
be more and more called into question. We have been seduced by a simple
primitive materislism that cannot sustain us in the long run.

5. There is a thing called "the public good" and this is real and not just an
abstraction and sometimes the public good trumps individual self
interests.

[shooz]

5. There is a thing called "the public good" and this real and not just an
abstraction and sometimes the public good trumps individual self
interests.

That's not what the CATO Institute is about.
They just change the language to say the same thing.
The way conservatives used language to frame welfare over the years, is the prime example.
That never got discussed.
Instead it's been all over the map. everything from liberal bias in the press. to me being batshit crazy . It's now on moral values.
I'm not going anywhere.
The truth of that change in language remains.
Like I said, if you can't destroy the messenger, destroy the message.
That IS a CATO tactic.

[wildman]

It is easier for conservatives to frame their message because it is a simple one opposed to change, compared to liberals or progressives who propose changes even though they might not work (hence are harder to defend)..

I think this is essentially correct.
Much of what passes for political thought on the far Right is, in fact, more like a civil religion.
listening to a group of conservatives reciting conservative principals is much like sitting in church and listening to a christian reciting the Nicene creed - clear simple and unexamined.

It's the great limitation of any Democracy. On the Right or Left the base wants not answers but solutions and not to your problems but to theirs and not much else.

[GeneV]

I think this is essentially correct.
Much of what passes for political thought on the far Right is, in fact, more like a civil religion.
listening to a group of conservatives reciting conservative principals is much like sitting in church and listening to a christian reciting the Nicene creed - clear simple and unexamined.

.

The Invisible Hand is as much accepted as the hand of God. Many of the truisms have no more proof than religion.

It happens on the left and in other contexts as well, though. Try to discuss food with a vegan. I'm not meaning to insult vegans,but only point out that we have many civil religions.

[mikemike]

Seems to me there are at least two ways to use the term "bias'
1. A partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation.
In this sense we are all guilty of bias. No individual or human institution is capable of perfect objectivity
2. A willful ignoring of facts and/or empirical evidence that does not support our "bias" in sense 1.
"Prejudice" is probably a more accurate term in this sense.

Which one are you talking about?

Both are prevalent. I would say with most daily newspapers like the NYT, WSJ, WP, or your local newspaper you see more of number 1 where they use their discretion to pull their punches for their friends or to make a few extra points to rub their enemies noses into their mistakes. You also see #2, everywhere but it is not usually done directly by the staff of the news outlet, it is more done by choosing who is quoted or interviewed as an "expert guest," often they will call someone on with a very biased viewpoint which is not disclosed and they are allowed to spew that viewpoint unchecked or if they are part of a panel, one POV will be given superior airtime or they will choose a weaker guest to be a straw man for the opposition. You do get #2 from sources like Andrew Breitbart, the Atlantic, Fire Dog Lake, Kos, etc where they will actively ignore their own shortcomings and aggressively publish hard hitting news against their enemies even if their stories aren't airtight.

[wildman]

t happens on the left and in other contexts as well, though.

Yes it does but...
...It's been my experience that on the left there is at least somewhat more willingness to accept that their policies are tentative, incomplete and imperfect. A difference of degree if not of kind.

Talking to the far Right and one would think that free market capitalism and so-called small government is some sort of transcendent metaphysical truth ordained by God. Capitalism is not just a way to organize commerce but a state of grace.

[shooz]

Talking to the far Right and one would think that free market capitalism and so-called small government is some sort of transcendent metaphysical truth ordained by God. Capitalism is not just a way to organize commerce but a state of grace.

The First Church of the Invisible Hand!!!!
Don't forget cursing the infidels (poor people). any means to that end is A-OK.

[TaoMaas]

Every media outlet has a bias...

True, but....every viewer has a bias, too. And that viewer's bias colors how they view the reporting of the news. Reporters are trained in how to keep their opinions out of the news as best they can. Viewers are under no such constraints.

[Wheatfield]

True, but....every viewer has a bias, too. And that viewer's bias colors how they view the reporting of the news. Reporters are trained in how to keep their opinions out of the news as best they can. Viewers are under no such constraints.

Much of the media is now engaged in bias adjustment, whether by subtle means (the Canadian CBC) or by blatant (Faux News).

[GeneV]

Yes it does but...
...It's been my experience that on the left there is at least somewhat more willingness to accept that their policies are tentative, incomplete and imperfect. A difference of degree if not of kind..

Perhaps it seems that way because of the vast number of us who are labeled "left" under the current framing. I think the true "left" is not that much different, but they are fewer and less influential.

[seacapt]

Prove it.

The republican party has better looking women than the democrats
PROVE ME WRONG

[newarts]

Yes it does but...
...It's been my experience that on the left there is at least somewhat more willingness to accept that their policies are tentative, incomplete and imperfect. A difference of degree if not of kind.

Talking to the far Right and one would think that free market capitalism and so-called small government is some sort of transcendent metaphysical truth ordained by God. Capitalism is not just a way to organize commerce but a state of grace.

Exactly what I meant. The right proposes based on simple beliefs that are easy to state. The left proposes on complex rational thought and empirical results that are difficult to explain compared to simple heartfelt beliefs.

Right wing's passion trumps left wing's ration.
or
Right wing belief trumps left wing thought.

All of the liberal rationalization possible will not convince a true believer that taking their hard earned money by threat of force and giving it to others they don't approve of is a good thing to do.

[GeneV]

The republican party has better looking women than the democrats
PROVE ME WRONG

Republicans are better at Photoshop, too. Some pretty good lessons about photography, there as well.

[shooz]

Completely overlooking the girls of PETA!

25 Sexy Peta Girls – Holytaco
I'm no vegan, but these girls win.

Repubs have no lock on photoshop either.