11 ms·

This is why we can't have nice things. Like democracy. But I also have to limit my exposure to political news. Otherwise I get too depressed.

hartator 7y ago
You don’t have to follow news to make good political decisions. If people read philosophy as the same rates they follow fake political drama, we’ll be in a better place.
- eric_cc 7y ago
  Can you imagine if kids were taught logic, philosophy, and psychology at school? It would be a different world.
kristopolous 7y ago
Democracy is achieved through active participation in building and maintaining institutions exercising power, not in passively consuming broadcasted editorial content. It's depressing because consuming content in isolation doesn't materially affect anything. You can't watch your way to political action. It's empty and everyone knows it. Donate money to causes you care about, attend meetings, help organize things, exercise power.
- ljw1001 7y ago
  It wouldn't hurt to have some idea of what's going on, though. Ignoring politics entirely isn't likely to lead to political action.
username90 7y ago
We don't have a democracy where you need to stay up to date with events, if this were Switzerland you'd have a point, but in most countries you only need to get the summary once every 4 years. I'd even argue that people will make better decisions if completely stepped away from everything and got some perspective before the election instead of constantly being emotionally involved all the time.
- ljw1001 7y ago
  Ignorance is bliss.
MrFantastic 7y ago
I don't think the for-Profit 24 hours news channels are helping Democracy. With that much talk time they have to speculate about what's actually going on. When they speculate wrong it's labeled "Fake News". Currently USA news media creates division to get eye balls. Reading a summary of the news weekly keeps you just as informed at watching 24/7

hartator 7y ago

You don’t have to follow news to make good political decisions. If people read philosophy as the same rates they follow fake political drama, we’ll be in a better place.

eric_cc 7y ago
Can you imagine if kids were taught logic, philosophy, and psychology at school? It would be a different world.

kristopolous 7y ago

Democracy is achieved through active participation in building and maintaining institutions exercising power, not in passively consuming broadcasted editorial content. It's depressing because consuming content in isolation doesn't materially affect anything. You can't watch your way to political action. It's empty and everyone knows it. Donate money to causes you care about, attend meetings, help organize things, exercise power.

ljw1001 7y ago
It wouldn't hurt to have some idea of what's going on, though. Ignoring politics entirely isn't likely to lead to political action.

username90 7y ago

We don't have a democracy where you need to stay up to date with events, if this were Switzerland you'd have a point, but in most countries you only need to get the summary once every 4 years. I'd even argue that people will make better decisions if completely stepped away from everything and got some perspective before the election instead of constantly being emotionally involved all the time.

ljw1001 7y ago
Ignorance is bliss.

MrFantastic 7y ago

I don't think the for-Profit 24 hours news channels are helping Democracy. With that much talk time they have to speculate about what's actually going on. When they speculate wrong it's labeled "Fake News". Currently USA news media creates division to get eye balls. Reading a summary of the news weekly keeps you just as informed at watching 24/7