To the editor:
It's become an exercise in futility to point out the hypocrisy and greed that now seems to have taken over most facets of our government, business community and everyday life. Serious concern to where the country is headed and what we're permitting the wealthy and their political allies to do to our system of government is mind-bending.
When the dangerous actions of these people, or groups of people, are put forth in broadcast TV, newspapers or magazines, they're totally ignored because they have no entertainment value. We're so fascinated with the distractions of all the new electronic devices that old-fashioned common sense and recognition of liars, truth-twisters and hate-mongers are all but ignored. The old saying that if you keep telling the same lie over and over it becomes the truth has become the new reality.
Too often, it seems that we no longer want to be informed, we only want to be entertained. Websites that are created to further the view of radical groups are treated as gospel and mindlessly believed by many people. They believe that if they saw it on the Internet it is true. How else can you explain the following of people like Michele Bachmann, Sarah Palin, Ron Paul, Rick Perry or Donald Trump? They're very entertaining, but lack true substance in their approach to solving the real problems that are tearing the country apart. They have their own agendas, which do nothing to address the problems facing average families. They're wealthy people who believe working people are fools.
A few years ago, educators, government economists and many who could see a bleak future for future generations warned about the dumbing down of America. They were branded crackpots and relegated to the wilderness. When you now see that basic education studies no longer even include American history, you're left to wonder. Someone once said, those who refuse to learn from the past will be forced to relive it. History revealed the reasons for the Great Depression in the 1930s, and we see the same events occurring again. We're learned nothing. Reality TV is not reality, it's entertainment. What passes for reality today is a program that is specifically designed to sell you something, not educate you.
I'm afraid that the dumbing down of America has worked so well that we've let others do our thinking for us. We don't need to know anything - the Internet has all the answers. Just ignore reality, true reality, and seek out new kinds of entertainment. Don't worry, be happy. After all, who are you going to believe, GOP-paid mouthpieces or your lying eyes? We have our marching orders. Right face - backward march.
Stan Galownia
Mingo Junction
