It's a question that dates back at least to ancient Rome. It refers to the notion that someone ought to be keeping an eye on the folks who wield power in society.
To some extent, it's the role of the press to guard the guardians (i.e., politicians) in our society. But to a larger degree, that task ultimately falls upon the citizens themselves.
I often tell people that the only thing newspapers really do is print words. It's up to others to read those words and respond. The most significant news story in the world is useless if no one bothers to read or react to it.
In a democratic society, it's essential that citizens serve as the guards of the guardians, demanding proper conduct. Otherwise, government can deteriorate into dictatorship.
Or it can unravel into an incompetent mess. Sort of what we have now.
In the field of journalism - along with certain non-profit or public interest organizations - a new line of work has arisen related to politics. It's called the fact checker.
It has become a mini industry, as statements by political candidates and campaign commercials are scrutinized for their content in terms of accuracy. Not surprisingly, fact checkers find fault with what politicians of all stripes are telling the American people.
It's not that these politicians are lying - at least not blatantly so. Instead, they massage the truth, put their own spin on reality, or leave out key details the public ought to know.
Considering all the charges and counter charges made in the recent presidential campaign - particularly in terms of who's giving the American people the straight story - you would think that fact checkers would be warmly welcomed by voters looking for clarity and accuracy.
But surveys suggest that's not the case. Information produced by fact checkers seems to have little impact on the electorate. And politicians take notice.
This is obvious when you look at the criticisms fact checkers made about assorted campaign ads. Often, the ads are dismantled by fact checkers, but the campaigns continued to run them. The declarations of fact checkers are dismissed as inconsequential.
Why? There are a couple of possibilities. One is that voters are every bit as partisan as the candidates. They don't want nuance or insight. They merely want confirmation of their ideological views and they reject everything else.
Another is that with fact checkers serving to discredit both parties, no one's left to believe in. When everybody's blowing smoke in your face, how do you locate an honest candidate?
Unfortunately, this tainted political environment allows the distortions to persist. The politicians have no incentive to tell the truth if the voters are throwing up their hands in defeat.
So neither party will tell you hard, ugly decisions have to be made with the federal budget, mainly because you don't want to hear that. Instead, voters latch on to ideologically pleasing rhetoric that implies the nation's fiscal problems can be resolved with a few relatively painless adjustments, and perhaps a little pixie dust.
The real fact is that Republicans and Democrats are both letting this nation down. And the American people are allowing it to happen.
- Mitchel Olszak is a columnist for The New Castle (Pa.) News, a CNHI sister publication.
I’ve not kept it a secret that I find people who dress their dogs in clothes to be, to put it nicely, somewhat more than just eccentric. And many friendly, helpful readers out there have not kept it a secret that they really wish I would not express my views about dogs dressed as humans.
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
It sounds like the plot from a dystopian libertarian novel. The word “patriot” and the phrase “educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights” triggered heightened scrutiny from the most intrusive agency in the federal government.
The action at the bird feeder has been spectacular lately: Cardinals, finches, songbirds in impressive variety crowding around all day long in search of sustenance. It is truly gratifying …
Everyone presumes that Sen. Chuck Schumer, the media-hungry Democrat from New York, wants to be the next Senate majority leader. His performance in the negotiations over the Gang of Eight immigration plan should bolster his case for an eventual promotion.
Someone had to take the fall for President Barack Obama thoughtlessly drawing a “red line” threatening serious consequences if Syria used chemical weapons. It turns out that it is the president himself.
There were other issues that had potentially greater financial impact or will leave a more resolute imprint on people’s lives, such as Medicaid expansion and Common Core.
It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless.
It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless.
Commentary
Discussion
Americans fail to demand better of politicians
By Mitchel Olszak CNHI
Who guards the guardians?
It's a question that dates back at least to ancient Rome. It refers to the notion that someone ought to be keeping an eye on the folks who wield power in society.
To some extent, it's the role of the press to guard the guardians (i.e., politicians) in our society. But to a larger degree, that task ultimately falls upon the citizens themselves.
I often tell people that the only thing newspapers really do is print words. It's up to others to read those words and respond. The most significant news story in the world is useless if no one bothers to read or react to it.
In a democratic society, it's essential that citizens serve as the guards of the guardians, demanding proper conduct. Otherwise, government can deteriorate into dictatorship.
Or it can unravel into an incompetent mess. Sort of what we have now.
In the field of journalism - along with certain non-profit or public interest organizations - a new line of work has arisen related to politics. It's called the fact checker.
It has become a mini industry, as statements by political candidates and campaign commercials are scrutinized for their content in terms of accuracy. Not surprisingly, fact checkers find fault with what politicians of all stripes are telling the American people.
It's not that these politicians are lying - at least not blatantly so. Instead, they massage the truth, put their own spin on reality, or leave out key details the public ought to know.
Considering all the charges and counter charges made in the recent presidential campaign - particularly in terms of who's giving the American people the straight story - you would think that fact checkers would be warmly welcomed by voters looking for clarity and accuracy.
But surveys suggest that's not the case. Information produced by fact checkers seems to have little impact on the electorate. And politicians take notice.
This is obvious when you look at the criticisms fact checkers made about assorted campaign ads. Often, the ads are dismantled by fact checkers, but the campaigns continued to run them. The declarations of fact checkers are dismissed as inconsequential.
Why? There are a couple of possibilities. One is that voters are every bit as partisan as the candidates. They don't want nuance or insight. They merely want confirmation of their ideological views and they reject everything else.
Another is that with fact checkers serving to discredit both parties, no one's left to believe in. When everybody's blowing smoke in your face, how do you locate an honest candidate?
Unfortunately, this tainted political environment allows the distortions to persist. The politicians have no incentive to tell the truth if the voters are throwing up their hands in defeat.
So neither party will tell you hard, ugly decisions have to be made with the federal budget, mainly because you don't want to hear that. Instead, voters latch on to ideologically pleasing rhetoric that implies the nation's fiscal problems can be resolved with a few relatively painless adjustments, and perhaps a little pixie dust.
The real fact is that Republicans and Democrats are both letting this nation down. And the American people are allowing it to happen.
- Mitchel Olszak is a columnist for The New Castle (Pa.) News, a CNHI sister publication.
I’ve not kept it a secret that I find people who dress their dogs in clothes to be, to put it nicely, somewhat more than just eccentric. And many friendly, helpful readers out there have not kept it a secret that they really wish I would not express my views about dogs dressed as humans.
May 17, 2013
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
May 17, 2013
The federal government recently announced new regulations for buying fast food.
May 17, 2013
It sounds like the plot from a dystopian libertarian novel. The word “patriot” and the phrase “educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights” triggered heightened scrutiny from the most intrusive agency in the federal government.
May 17, 2013
The action at the bird feeder has been spectacular lately: Cardinals, finches, songbirds in impressive variety crowding around all day long in search of sustenance. It is truly gratifying …
For my neighbor.
That’s what it’s like at his feeder.
May 14, 2013
On April 27, Dr. Jeff Butts demonstrated a rare form of servant leadership as he participated in the Go Love Indy westside service project.
May 13, 2013
Everyone presumes that Sen. Chuck Schumer, the media-hungry Democrat from New York, wants to be the next Senate majority leader. His performance in the negotiations over the Gang of Eight immigration plan should bolster his case for an eventual promotion.
May 13, 2013
Someone had to take the fall for President Barack Obama thoughtlessly drawing a “red line” threatening serious consequences if Syria used chemical weapons. It turns out that it is the president himself.
May 13, 2013
There were other issues that had potentially greater financial impact or will leave a more resolute imprint on people’s lives, such as Medicaid expansion and Common Core.
May 13, 2013
It happens every year at this time; I make a little dandelion whine. So here goes.
May 10, 2013
Follow me on Twitter
Will you be attending this year's Indy 500?
Tires
Telecommunications
Beauty Salons
Government
It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless.
May 19, 2013 3 Photos 3 Stories
Complete Report:
Part I: Are We Prepared? | Part II: Disaster Dollars
Part III: Lessons Learned | Part IV: Warning Signs
Part V: The Big One
A massive tornado touched down Monday afternoon in Moore, Okla., just south of Oklahoma City. Follow live coverage of the aftermath of the storm.
May 20, 2013 1 Photo
It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless.
May 19, 2013 3 Photos 3 Stories
Complete Report:
Part I: Are We Prepared? | Part II: Disaster Dollars
Part III: Lessons Learned | Part IV: Warning Signs
Part V: The Big One
Restaurants in avon
Tires in avon
Telecommunications in avon
Pizza Restaurants in avon
Beauty Salons in avon
Government in avon
Click for More
Powered by Local.com
Site Map
© 2013 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. · CNHI Classified Advertising Network · CNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2013. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope. Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
Privacy Policy | AP News Registry privacy policy
Terms and Conditions
Advertiser Index
Hendricks County Flyer, Avon, IN 8109 Kingston St., Suite 500 Avon, IN 46123