Quote of the Month:April

[Fox News'] goal is to cast doubt on all other sources of information, making one’s followers wholly dependent on you by isolating them from — and punishing them for — any contact with any other voices, relationships or arbiters.

Fox does this by systematically slandering every respected and reliable source of information, truth and fact. This is a necessary part of their project. You can’t present a convincing alternative to reality for people who have access to other, more credible arbiters of reality. So Fox attacks all such arbiters of reality: journalists, the media, NASA, the CBO, the CDC, the NIH, think tanks, foundations, academia, universities, science as a whole, logic, reason, conscience, sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch.

The tactic is identical to that practiced for centuries by abusive husbands. Isolate to create enforced dependence and control.

Fred, author of the blog Slacktivist; http://www.patheos.com/community/slacktivist/2011/04/01/some-reach-out-some-lash-out/

What I can’t seem to convince my family is how dangerous Fox really is. Don’t get me wrong, they’re not complete fans of the channel, but they like to ignore the violations of journalistic integrity Fox is guilty of day in, day out. I recognize the value of so-called “conservative” ideals; fiscal responsibility, caution in adopting unproven ideas, and certain life issues all make sense. At the same time, I look at the modern conservative movements, and I shake my head that people so devoted to “Christian” lifestyles, almost do everything they can to ensure that the rich are pushed farther and farther above the crowd, while the poor and the vox populi continues to be quashed.

Unfortunately, my family and those who follow Fox with fanaticism keep bringing up that while Fox may have some journalistic integrity issues, they’re just as bad as MSNBC. I’d be inclined to agree with that, if it wasn’t for the fact that MSNBC doesn’t champion fighting against higher education. Any politician or public figure who is highly educated is put under suspicion for being “elitist” and therefore is not really one of the truly good people.

Sarah Palin reflects this quite well, when she told a group of Tea Partiers while referring to the President, “We need a Commander-in-Chief, not a Professor of Law”

Fox does provide information, but all of that should be viewed within the prism of the evangelical xenophobic subculture. I don’t know how to yet reach my friends and family who are addicted to the disingenuous nature of Fox News.