Strategically Communicating

This week’s reading was equally engaging and depressing.  I suppose that I have always known corruption is pervasive in our political systems.  It’s one of those things that are easier to deal with if you don’t think about it.  Sweep it under the carpet so that you don’t have to see it and pretend it doesn’t exist.  Play it off as if it only affects others.

Like any other issue in life, you can only ignore it for so long.  McChesney does a great job of bringing several issues to the forefront and encouraging awareness of what has been happening in our political and media arenas.  It sickens me to think that our political systems are so corrupt that it’s hard to believe any politician is authentic.  It also disgusts me to think that the corruption is linked at the highest levels in our media and political systems.

Sometimes I have negative feelings towards protestors, standing up for issues they believe in.  I get more upset at myself because when I agree with their protest, I am not out there with them.  I get frustrated that other people like me that believe in that same reason for the protest aren’t out there protesting.  Instead we drive by them, stare and wish that they wouldn’t slow traffic down.

These protestors have the right idea, more Americans need to congregate and demand that policies be written in such a way that ‘we’ have access to information, investigation and research on people or issues that impact society.

How is America supposed to have faith in democracy and capitalism if all the large companies and politicians are in bed with each other for self serving reasons?

McChesney has given me a lot to think about.

Discussion question(s):

1. If media companies are in bed with big business and politicians and their stories are influenced by them instead of the truth; what can the average American or up and coming generation(s) do to change that?
2. How do we switch the flavor of the Kool-Aid the public is drinking?
3. If the corruption is at the highest level, how do we crack that nut to reveal the inner works?