Question Everything (part 3)

Opinion (or was it news, I always forget)

Opinion is hard to see at times - because it is often sold as truth. Perhaps that is why I don't like watching the talking heads on 24 hour news networks. Lets be honest, when a channel has to turn 86,400 seconds everyday into riveting genius, its a tough sell - on over 11 channels mind you (C-SPAN1, 2, & 3, CNBC, CNBC World, Fox News, Fox Business News, CNN, CNN Headline News, MSNBC, Bloomberg - to name a few). So, what do they do? They throw in a healthy dose of speculation, political beliefs, and greed under the guise of news - it sells a lot better than facts. Check out this Harvard study (long).

News:

- is "just the facts."

- is unbiased.

- is fair and balanced (for reals).

- allows the viewer the ability to make up their own opinion.

- is not being spoon fed opinion, while being told it's news.

Don't get me wrong - opinion is important. Perhaps this is why Mohamed El-Erian's father (from part 1) chose to read from 4 different newspapers a day. So that he could glean truth from all the distortions and formulate an opinion of his own.

I have my opinions on health care, freedom of speech, the second amendment, abortion, the economy, business regulation, etc. It comes from my personal beliefs and how I view the world. But it is mine, and it is not to be manipulated by salesmen (or as we like to call them, pundits & correspondents).

"But you don't have to take my word for it…"

PS: The shows I REALLY like are the ones who pit two talking heads from opposite political spectrum's against each other. Let the loudest and rudest one win! Unless the host cuts them off....