[5]To be clear, when a government’s finances are in bad shape that does not necessarily mean it will run out of
buying power. But it does mean that there is a much higher risk of that happening than if the government were in a
financially strong position.
[6]Of course, these two kinds of struggles aren’t equivalent. Still, in both cases, I have found that people are
focused on their own issues and communities and don’t understand the circumstances of those they don’t have
direct contact with. In many communities, people, and most heart-breakingly the children, are desperately poor and
neglected. There is an acute shortage of money for basics such as adequate school supplies, nutrition, and basic
healthcare and an environment of violence and trauma that perpetuates a cycle in which children are brought up
intellectually and physically malnourished and traumatized; this leaves them disadvantaged as they grow into
adulthood, which makes it hard for them to earn a living, which perpetuates the cycle. Consider this fact: a recent
study that our foundation funded showed that 22% of the high school students in Connecticut—the richest state in
the country by income per capita—are either “disengaged” or “disconnected.” A disengaged student is one who has
an absentee rate of greater than 25% and is failing classes. A disconnected student is one who the system can’t
track because they dropped out. Imagine the consequences in 10 years and the human and social costs of this cycle.
Our society has not established limits to how terrible it will allow conditions to get.
[7]https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2019/10/10/how-partisans-view-each-other/
[8]https://www.prri.org/research/fractured-nation-widening-partisan-polarization-and-key-issues-in-2020-
presidential-elections/>
[9]https://www.vox.com/xpress/2014/9/23/6828715/heres-how-many-republicans-dont-want-their-kids-to-marry-
democrats
[10]From Nathan Kalmoe and Lilliana Mason, “Lethal Mass Partisanship: Prevalence, Correlates, & Electoral
Contingencies,” NCAPSA American Politics Meeting, 2019.
[11]Viscount Northcliffe, who controlled just under half of daily newspaper circulation in the UK around World
War I, was known for anti-German coverage and was made “Director of Propaganda in Enemy Countries” by the
government in 1918.
[12]https://news.gallup.com/poll/267047/americans-trust-mass-media-edges-down.aspx
[13]https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/07/business/media/medias-next-challenge-overcoming-the-threat-of-fake-
news.html
[14] What can be done? The news media is unique in being the only industry that operates without quality controls
or checks on its power. I and most others believe that it would be terrible for our government to regulate it and, at
the same time, believe that something has to be done to fix the problem. Perhaps if people protest enough the
media could be motivated to create a self-regulatory organization to regulate and create ratings the way the Motion
Picture Association did. I don’t have a clue about what should be done because this problem isn’t in my areas of
expertise, and it’s not my place to offer suggestions to try to fix the problem; however, it is my responsibility to
point out that we are in an era in which sensationalism, commercialism, and political desires to manipulate
people’s views have superseded accuracy and journalistic integrity as the primary objectives of most of those in the
media and that this is like a cancer that threatens our well-being. If you believe that fake and distorted media is a
problem and you are interested in watching the media/propaganda for clues about whether and how this is
transpiring, here are a few commonly recommended things to look out for. Ask yourself:
1. Does the story consist of emotionally triggering, unsubstantiated accusations or are the facts substantiated and
the sources provided? When the facts are put aside to create an exciting story and the sources are undisclosed,
don’t believe the story.
2. Does the writer welcome or not welcome replies or arguments that refute what they are asserting, and are they
willing or not willing to publish them along with what they published?
3. Are the accusations in the story consistent with what has been identified and proven in the legal system? If
people or groups are accused in the media of doing bad things but they haven’t been accused and judged to
have done bad things in the legal system (which follows a process that tries to weigh the evidence to get at
what is true), at least ask yourself why that is and probably don’t believe the story.
4. If the writer or outlet has shown themselves to be biased, assume that they and their stories are biased.