I am a true believer in making my voice heard (esp. when I have true facts & not Glenn Beck lies or Jean Dixon forecasts). The only way to effect change is to call for change, and that points to your state/federal legislators. There's a phrase "Who Watches the Watchmen"--if they know they're being watched, they have to pay more attention to an issue. I've heard some of these senators--the good ones who really try to listen to their constituents--and they really are affected by the actions of the folks who vote for them (esp those who actually vote--they can pull this information up from a database & see who voted, when, & for what party). So, instead of freaking out over some bit of tv/radio talk show host morsel , I contact my Congressional representatives. It's a quick email, phone call or note based on knowing the legislative agenda beforehand or how they voted afterward.
To get this info, go to: THOMAS (the Library of Congress) http://thomas.loc.gov/(You can sign up to receive an email on how your federal rep voted, so that you are a KNOWLEDGABLE citizen, not just an outraged one.) Your representatives are the ones who got us in the current economic mess by deregulating the banking industry, by not prosecuting monopolies, by inacting huge tax breaks for the top 2% and big multinational corporations, and for allowing our manufacturing base to move overseas. You and I are responsible for not being an informed citizen and not voicing our concerns when it was happening. We have a key weapon at our disposal--the right to vote. Until they take that away, we can still effect change.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Sources, Lies & Videotapes
When media control was reduced in the early 2000's, fewer companies were allowed a larger share of the media market. This means that, in some cases, only one or 2 mulitnational companies or mega-rich men serve the media population in a given city in the USA. Just 30 years ago, the same population could count on a large number of sources to get their news. You must now look very carefully and critically at the information you are being fed. Today's topic--valid sources for research.
When doing research, be wary of the sources you believe. Web searches (via Google, Yahoo, etc.) are a BIG business--advertisers pay to position themselves at the beginning of a search, and these advertisers have one thing in mind--to make money. Many organizations with deep pockets have also created websites & bought for web positioning to promote their own agenda / propaganda. I just watched a movie yesterday (The International) and one of the actor's lines was something like "there's what we hear, what we want to believe, and then there's the truth." People find it hard to look for the truth. (Good movie, btw.)
So, do you really want to look for the truth? Or, do you believe what you want to believe and no website on the planet with a contradictory message will convince you otherwise? Assuming you are open-minded and open to the challenge, when you research, look carefully at the credentials of the website--the "who we are" or "about us" links usually at the bottom of the website's Home page. Look at the credentials of those listed. If the key players are talk show hosts, back out and search again (these folks make a living off entertainment, which is what a talk show is all about). What they talk about may or may not have any relevance to the truth (even where you find an exception to the rule, like Thom Hartmann, you still need to validate the sources).
If the key player is a religious organization, back out (they have an agenda too). If the site claims to be fair and unbiased, hmmm. Check the credentials even more carefully (& then chuck it as well). If it's a Blog, unless it includes valid citations, chuck it. Unfortunately, there's a lot of money pouring into biased sites for one reason or another--to sell a product, to sell an idea (whether true or false), to influence an election.
On the far lower right of this blog, I list many of my major sources. Given the recent economic climante, I've pulled together key Economic / Financial sites where you can sift for information. Yes, some of this is very dry reading; but it allows you to form your own opinion based on facts--not on some big mouthed fool with a pointer stick wearing a $5000 Armani suit. Feel free to send me others you think are valid and, after I research them, I'll add them to the list.
When doing research, be wary of the sources you believe. Web searches (via Google, Yahoo, etc.) are a BIG business--advertisers pay to position themselves at the beginning of a search, and these advertisers have one thing in mind--to make money. Many organizations with deep pockets have also created websites & bought for web positioning to promote their own agenda / propaganda. I just watched a movie yesterday (The International) and one of the actor's lines was something like "there's what we hear, what we want to believe, and then there's the truth." People find it hard to look for the truth. (Good movie, btw.)
So, do you really want to look for the truth? Or, do you believe what you want to believe and no website on the planet with a contradictory message will convince you otherwise? Assuming you are open-minded and open to the challenge, when you research, look carefully at the credentials of the website--the "who we are" or "about us" links usually at the bottom of the website's Home page. Look at the credentials of those listed. If the key players are talk show hosts, back out and search again (these folks make a living off entertainment, which is what a talk show is all about). What they talk about may or may not have any relevance to the truth (even where you find an exception to the rule, like Thom Hartmann, you still need to validate the sources).
If the key player is a religious organization, back out (they have an agenda too). If the site claims to be fair and unbiased, hmmm. Check the credentials even more carefully (& then chuck it as well). If it's a Blog, unless it includes valid citations, chuck it. Unfortunately, there's a lot of money pouring into biased sites for one reason or another--to sell a product, to sell an idea (whether true or false), to influence an election.
On the far lower right of this blog, I list many of my major sources. Given the recent economic climante, I've pulled together key Economic / Financial sites where you can sift for information. Yes, some of this is very dry reading; but it allows you to form your own opinion based on facts--not on some big mouthed fool with a pointer stick wearing a $5000 Armani suit. Feel free to send me others you think are valid and, after I research them, I'll add them to the list.
- Economywatch.com
- The Bureau of Economic Analysis, http://www.bea.gov/
- Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=711
- The Financial Times, http://www.ft.com/home/uk
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)