On The Media Machine: When Do We Call It Lying?

I've been watching CNN lately trying to stay as up to date as I can with the goings on of the incidents in Ferguson, MO. I have to say I have been a little but off by the actions of the police, although I can relate to their mission having been a military police officer myself -- you can find my opinions on that here.

I'm also a bit appalled by the amount of bias I'm seeing on the part of the media. CNN in general has been utterly bewildering in it's misrepresentations. At times I'm hearing Don Lemon say one thing, while watching a completely different thing happening on the television in from of me. It's as if I need to mute the television in order to more easily rationalize what's really going on, which is really a shame when were talking about the people who are supposed to be reporting events, not interpreting them to us. 

I eventually got away from the television long enough to eat dinner, and catch up on some current events in an editorial form, where I stumbled upon this article by a progressive "journalist" Sally Kohn, and I must say I couldn't believe my eyes.

The article enraged me so much in fact, I decided to break it down a bit, using very simple terms, and in a way that should prove a bit entertaining, yet unmistakably revealing about what's going on within the bowls of the countries media. As you read -- while picking up your jaw -- think about what this would do to the lay individual who is simply soaking in information, and is none the wiser:

NOTE: Kohn's article snippets are contained within "" and my responses are marked by --

“The protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, want justice for the unarmed black teenager shot and killed there by a police officer. But the protests also reflect broader patterns of racial injustice across the country..” 

– Implying that the shooting was an injustice – although nothing has been proven factually to this point – and then using that insinuation as evidence of "a much larger issue": Biased

“It shouldn't need pointing out, but for the record, white people in America commit more crimes than black people.” 

– Insinuation lacking context, race ratio considerations perhaps?: biased

"whites committed crimes but blacks are criminals." 

– Opinion: Biased

“Despite the fact that the vast majority of mass shootings in America are perpetrated by white males, we don't condemn nor scrutinize white men nor white people as a group for the acts of these individuals. And yet we ascribe the criminal behavior of individual black people to the black community as a whole.” 

– Opinion, and all-inclusive: Racist

“This is on top of the host of negative stereotypes and assumptions we lump on communities of color and black people in particular.” 

– Opinion, and if she does, she’s racist: Racist

“Or consider that Americans who (incorrectly) believe that most welfare recipients are black think "lack of effort on their own part" is to blame. But among respondents who (correctly) think most people on welfare are white believe people are on welfare because of "circumstances beyond their control." 

– Did you read this op-ed from 2003? It’s mainly opinion based with some facts and percentages thrown in to appeal to the argument. Not to mention, it’s from 2003: Biased

“In this context, disproportionate police violence against black communities, especially black men and boys, must be understood not as an issue of rogue cops or isolated incidents but as an extreme manifestation of the sort of implicit racial bias that courses through every aspect of our nation.” 

– A biased opinion based on the 2003 op-ed: Biased with Racist Implications 

“In fact, cops who shoot unarmed black men have something in common with college students -- in video simulated research tests, both cops and college students, of all races, are far more likely to shoot at unarmed black men than unarmed white men.” 

– Interesting that blacks see blacks as criminals. We may assume that this is because of the way they’re presented in the media etc., but then there’s that little tug on the back of my collar that wants me to ask how the public opinion molds the opinions of black men and women who live with other black men and women, unless there feelings are vindicated in some way?: Biased, Borderline  Racist 

“Every twist and turn of our society, our economy, our politics and our interpersonal interactions in America is tainted with racial bias. Sometimes it's subtle. Sometimes it's armed with a gun. But instead of talking about racial bias, and working to unravel this deep problem, we often bury our heads in the sand or — worse — attack those who try to talk about racial injustice as "race baiters." 

– Except, it's only racist because this white woman say so, never mind the opinions of black conservatives and Libertarians, who would say otherwise. I know, different people, different experiences; nonetheless she implies that she knows better than blacks that live in black worlds: Interesting to say the least; racist at most.

“Meanwhile, communities of color who are already undeniably struggling in the face of racial bias have to endure the secondary injustice of having their experience and concerns dismissed, whether it's politicians suggesting that poverty is a "cultural problem" in communities of color or media figures arguing that black men are disproportionately arrested and locked up because "in certain ghetto neighborhoods, it's part of the culture." 

– Opinion, based on a biased mindset and lacking ACTUAL facts, not op-ed’s from 03’: Biased

“We still don't know exactly what happened in Ferguson.” 

– What!? You’ve just written an entire OP-ED based on it!: Biased and misleading

"But the fact is that while white people use drugs more, black folks are more likely to be arrested for and face higher sentences for drug use. Blaming these and other egregious discrepancies on the black community instead of endemic racial bias is adding insult to injury. It also doesn't achieve anything -- except fanning more protests." 

– Larry Elder debunked this years ago: http://t.co/58lP7vbngK

“the Ferguson police have only cast suspicion on the victim and his character.”

-- I figured he cast suspicion on his character when he robbed a store in front of a family and other members in his community, but hey, detail, right?: Biased

“This blame-the-victim response echoes the broader blame-the-black-community mentality that denies persistent racial bias while telling black folks they're to blame for the hurdles and inequities that racial bias causes.”

-- Two paragraphs ago you said, “We still don't know exactly what happened in Ferguson”, now he’s a victim? Interesting: Biased, borderline racist and nonetheless misleading.

“Michael Brown is dead. Unfortunately nothing we do in Ferguson or anywhere else can change that.” 

-- Wow, an honest statement for once.

“But what we can change is the pattern of biased treatment at the hands of police as well as banks and schools and elected officials and throughout our society that actively, albeit often unwittingly, perpetuate racial injustice in America.”

-- Implying that Brown’s situation was based on biased, while stating, “We still don't know exactly what happened in Ferguson” only paragraphs ago.

“If we do that, finally, then we might ensure that no more Michael Browns or Eric Garners or Oscar Grants or Trayvon Martins are killed.”

-- Opinion, implying yet again that Brown (and Trayvon Martins death following his assault of Zimmerman, for that matter) was an injustice, again after stating, “We still don't know exactly what happened in Ferguson”

_________________End of Article_________________

Do you need me to break this down further? 

I can't believe what I've just read, and I'm frankly appalled that CNN would have such an out of touch individual pushing out propaganda like this. Have we decided the officers guilt already?

This is America, and we have a due process that has mad America what it is. Am I the only one who feels that it's simple logic to allow this trial to at least start, before making the kind of outlandish assertions made in this article? 

This is a racist article, Ms. Kohn, and you, ma'am, are a racist.

While I can agree that there are obviously devastating issues prevalent in the black community, and do sympathize deeply with many of the issues the community as a whole faces, to base an entire op-ed on an event that hasn't yet come to fruition -- the conviction of the officer involved in Browns shooting, if that should happen -- that does nothing but make racist assumptions and use all inclusive statement to make a bigger point about the apparent racism inherent in all white people, and to present it so deviously as fact, on a site the likes of CNN, is adherent -- you ma'am are the face of hate, and are the problem.

Let justice take its course, before you start pointing fingers and calling entire races racist. This is America, Ms. Kohn, please, at least act like it.

As we all experience the pain of losing a young man, Mike Brown, I can only say I am going to feel even worse for the black community if this officer is vindicated, and everyone starts asking why we’ve seen weeks of media attention and biased reporting based solely on opinions and hearsay, the likes of which we see here, from Ms. Kohn. 

In the end, I can't see any of this going well for the community in Ferguson. So far they've been pushed to near chaos by race baiters trying to make a buck off of their naivety, projected by a media trying it's best boost ratings, and have been infiltrated by hoodlums making themselves look like fools by making outlandish assumptions, destroying their own town, and bringing unrest to the folks who are truly seeking justice -- all of this based on nothing but hearsay, at this point. 

America, you're putting your chips all in on decency, and I'm afraid to say, the odds are not looking good -- you must wake up, start making new investments, and rethinking your strategy to bring more to see your hearts, before it's too late.

Peace, love and freedom.

About Me: I am a Software Engineer pursuing a Masters in Computer Science, a business man -- holding a Bachelors in Business with a focus in Enterprise Administration from Fordham University, Magna Cum Laude -- a writer, a blogger, a philosopher, a philanthropist, a veteran, and an all around thinker and do'er. My purpose is to point out that there is a reason for everything and an opinion for every reason. I am designed to interpret what I see and dictate what I've interpreted. My hope is that my words will not be seen as harsh, rather as liberating, and at very least, thought provoking. I enjoy everything from technology, to race relations, biology, genetics and economics.. for a start.. 

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On Humanizing Police: The Reality of The Individual Officer

Captain #RonJohnson has come out and expressed his approval for the #military style tactics used by the #Ferguson police, saying:

"When the chaos is in full effect, we can't tell if you are peaceful, potentially violent, or a member of the media. We just have to act, and we must protect our lives and the lives of the good people of this community."

To me, this is an amazing statement, and one that is uniquely indicative of the realities of how the humans react under fear and pressure -- we are, after all, human beings.

Being a military police veteran, I can relate entirely to his sentiment, and I must add to it, that we are trained to "shoot first and ask questions later." To the lay individual, this may come off as harsh, or emotionless, but what has to be taken into account is the reality that the types of environments we are trained to work in, don't care about how you feel about what's going on. 

Each of us have families, and we want to go home to see ours, just as much as you want to see #justice for yours. There has been a lot of focus on emotion, and it's implication on the reactions of both the officer who shot #MikeBrown, as well as the vandals who have done their part to tear their community down.

So what does this say about us? It says that we are all humans, and that despite how different we want to pretend we are, the reality is, we are all very similar. We all can love, hate, and let our anger take us over, and none of us are immune to that which makes us human, emotions.

Does this revelation on the part of Captain Ron Johnson speak to the possible realities of the scenario faced by the officer that shot Mike Brown?

What do you think?

Peace, love and freedom.

About Me: I am a Software Engineer w/ a Masters in Computer Science, a business man -- holding a Bachelors in Business with a focus in Enterprise Administration from Fordham University, Magna Cum Laude -- a writer, a blogger, a philosopher, a philanthropist, a veteran, and an all around thinker and do'er. My purpose is to point out that there is a reason for everything and an opinion for every reason. I am designed to interpret what I see and dictate what I've interpreted. My hope is that my words will not be seen as harsh, rather as liberating, and at very least, thought provoking. I enjoy everything from technology, to race relations, biology, genetics and economics.. for a start.. 

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Why Putin and Russia could care less about Obama and the west:

While the American status quo of pure chaos on the home front does not go so far as to promote outright drooling at the mouth from the old powers, what it does do is make opportunities to gain an upper hand seem like a much more delectable route to take. For those like Putin, who are hell bent on resurrecting the “Russianesque” era of old, there is simply a, “hey, why not?” mentality to it all. As the old adage goes, “while the cat is away, the mice will play,” suffice it to say, if America is a feline, it has fallen into a self induced catnip coma, and will out of the litter box for the foreseeable future – Putin is merely seeing how far he can go. Who’s going to stop him?

Opportunists are taking notice as western world sits on it’s hindquarters and shakes sticks at itself – when you consider the inaction in 08’ during the Georgian invasion, and the same during the Syrian civil war, the inability to balance a budget, the levying of massive cuts to the funding of what was at one point the worlds most feared and ready military unit, a president who all but annihilates any legal boundaries that stand in his way, European weakness, and lest we forget history’s biggest international incident in which the US was caught illegally spying on just about every faction in the world, including itself and it’s own citizens, it’s not hard to see why those who are on the outside looking in are taking a vested interested in the toxic nature of the recent events America has been involved in, and are acting on it.

Crimea has been a sore spot in the side of Russia since Nikita Khrushchev handed it over to Ukraine in 1954. What adds to the volatility of this situation is the inclusion of old world powers that are longing to restructure their borders and expand their power, all in the name of national honor and restored glory. Staying true to his ever so Hitler’esq style, Putin is playing our bluff and is gambling big time on our track record of doing absolutely nothing when the time called for action. It's a bluff that he will most likely win if the track record of inaction continues.

What is so infuriating about the situation for the west is the reality that a small flexing of the muscle would most likely cause Putin to stand down, and there are many ways that liberals can accomplish this: Freeze Russian purchases in America and the EU, impose sanctions, kick Putin out of the G8 – something needs to be done before the attempts to push America into the background are made a reality. And what has the west done? Threaten a no show at the Sochi meetings. What a chilling thought – cough, cough.

The big issue on the horizon for the western and liberal world is the question of how much insecurity are they willing to put up with? Are liberals willing to bow out, sacrifice power, and in the coming decades add to the insecurity, instability and uncertainty? How far is the west willing to bend? How long can we weather continual slaps in the face in the presence of the reshaping of the global paradigm? If the liberal agenda continues to relent power and fan the flames of the reconstruction that Putin and China are pushing for, there will be drastic changes in the not so distant future. It will take more than a small poke in the eye for Putin to make over Russia in the ways he wishes, but for his opening act, taking Crimea quickly and possibly all of Ukraine at any point in the future certainly adds some wind to his sails. And while Beijing may not necessarily be motivated by emotional instigators, the slow advance throughout Asia certainly smells like the beginning of something much more advantageous for them. The question is, how long will Obama sit in his chair and whack his paddle ball before he feels that he should actually start making good on some of his threats? We have an ace in the hole in our oil reserve, what will Obama and the liberal west do? – everyone is watching.

About Me: I am a Computer Scientist, more specifically a Database Administrator, a business man (Holding a Bachelors in Business with a focus in Enterprise Administration from Fordham University, Magna Cum Laude), a writer, a blogger, as well as a philosopher, a philanthropist (as much as one with limited finances can be..) a veteran, and in general, an all around thinker and do'er. My purpose is to point out that there is a reason for everything and an opinion for every reason. I am designed to interpret what I see and dictate what I've interpreted. My hope is that my words will not be seen as harsh, rather as liberating, and at very least, thought provoking. I enjoy everything from technology, to race relations, biology, genetics and economics..  for a start.. 

WhoisJamesRoberts.com

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Government Aid and How it Creates Dependency Amongst the Minority Community:

It’s well understood that innovation is the key to advancement for any society/civilization. The truth is, without new discoveries we would grow stagnant as individuals, and our economies would inevitably grind to a halt – monopolized by those corporations who, over the decades, would eventually buy out smaller companies in an effort to claim supremacy over market space. It takes the branching-out of new ideas to stimulate growth, add to the job market, and eventually produce “the next big thing.” There is something far more inherently fascinating, and otherwise terrifying about the nature of innovation though – not to say that progress is negative – and that is the fact that with all of the individuals who prosper from the ability to apply their knowledge to their prospective sectors, and with all the jobs created, money earned and milestones achieved as a product of progress through innovation, there will inevitably be those who do not prosper, those who are simply not mentally prepared or intellectually equipped with the ability to do things like hardwire computers, provide patient care or code software.  What happens to those individuals?

My concern stems from the reality that the majority of those in the lower middle and lower classes in this country are becoming inherently dependent on a government that, it seems, would prefer to keep them that way. Government programs supply a steady stream of income – in the way of food stamps, welfare and so on – that those who have access to would be foolish to give up in exchange for unskilled labor, whose end result would often times see them pull in far less compensation than they would if they were to remain on government assistance. The aim of these programs is to provide assistance, some short term, and some long term; more often than not, though, this creates a dependency. I read a statistic recently that translated the government assistance programs of different states, to a “dollar per hour amount” based on a 40-hour workweek. Most states averaged around the $12 - $14 dollar an hour mark, with the highest numbers - like those of Connecticut, New York, Hawaii and Rhode Island - equating the amount of the average government aid to an individual making between $17 and $22 per hour. Who needs to get a job when you’re pulling in that kind of money for nothing?

Here is the troubling part: If we combine these facts with statistics which show that minority households make up the majority of the lower end of the income scale – earning almost half of the income that Asians and white households do (as seen in image 1) – it would be safe to assume that these programs would inevitably have a devastating effect on the minority populations of this country for several reasons:

1.) The first issue I see is what I like to call “The rebound effect.” While not in every case, chances are good that an increased flow of money will lead to purchases that were otherwise not affordable for a low income household, say for instance a new car, which was not previously an option, but is now feasible given the new income. The rebound aspect of this scenario has to do with the inability of the low-income individual to maintain payments on a car note that will inevitably last far longer into the future than the aid will. This leads to a default on payments, credit issues and a financial burden greater than what was initially an issue. 

2.) A second issue I would like to highlight occurs when an individual cannot realistically match the income that was previously being gifted to them. Nine times out of ten, an aid recipient’s funds run out – this is the unavoidable end result of most government aid. When this happens, the individual now faces a situation where they have no better options for employment than they were initially facing, prior to applying for aid, and the money vein has run dry. If and when an individual does become employed, the new position is often not a skilled one, and therefore does not command a wage anywhere close to that which was the average of their aid. This scenario sees a person use up what little government backing they receive only to come out on the other end with no formal training or learned skills that would better their chances of obtaining a job, and no more funding coming in from the government that once enabled an unsustainable way of life. This could eventually lead to depression, anxiety and other forms of mental illness, which will only serve to complicate an already dire situation - when all else seems hopeless, suicide could result.

3.) We also can’t overlook the fact that in the majority of these situations, there are children involved. Often times these children become accustomed to seeing single mothers or single fathers, seeking out and living off of government funding. As children grow, these observations would undoubtedly lead to the  notion that it is normal for individuals to live off of the government. Children are rarely taught where this money comes from, and so, never learn to truly appreciate how the system is supposed to work, and that they should indeed try their best to contribute to the fund, as opposed to taking away from it. Despite the balancing act one must do with political correctness in this country, I feel it must be said that the reality is that the seeds planted into a child’s mind in this way, will undoubtedly have disastrous effects on the mindset of future generations, and will only serve to anchor these generations into an imaginary fallback plan, where we will then see this inhumane cycle occur all over again – and these are only a few of the proposed problems that I have chosen to expound upon.

The department of commerce shows us that even though the minority population makes up less than 30% of the nation's population, it accounts for over 55% of the nation's government aid recipients. (http://www.statisticbrain.com/welfare-statistics/) Where will that leave the majority of the minority population in the future? One would have to imagine that this combination of evolution and the inherited diseases of addiction and dependency will inevitably have disastrous effects on the psyche and the overall wellbeing of entire categories of people – evolution is funny in the way that is slowly changes things, and one would have to understand that just as traits for alcoholism and other forms of dependency and mental illness are passed down through genetic transfer, this form of dependency too, is transferred from generation to generation.

(Image 1)

This leads me to consider: It being the case that the upper levels of the income gap are inhabited by those who hold jobs that most would consider as having a direct impact on innovation and therefore progress – tech jobs, money management and analytical positions, etc. – we can assume that the individuals in these sectors will pass on more well adapted cognitive and analytical functions to their children. As this trend continues, it should have a much more positive long term effect on its line, producing minds which are much better suited for problem solving, analytical processes, and which are generally better equipped to thrive in a future that will be dominated by industries of innovation. With one group heading down a more positive evolutionary path, while the other develops crippling dependencies as a result of it being hardwired into the brains of those who will have been dependent for so long, I can only conclude that we will continue to see a widening in the gap not only between the poor and the wealthy, (or at least the well off) but also between those effected by the mental and psychological aspects of dependency. Take this into consideration as you try to visualize these situations: What do you suppose the effects would be on the nation or on a particular sub category of the population, if that population consisted of, say, 40% alcoholics, as opposed to the 4% that is the current rate? I will leave that open for you to consider, but will point out again that 40% receiving government aide is where the minority community currently stands, while making up less than 1/3 of the total population – food for thought.

Why then would we continue to enable individuals to maintain their dependency on government programs that only serve to diminish their chances of competing in a future that will demand sharp intellect if we are to be successful, both as individuals and as a nation? Should we not be concerned that this type of dependency will inevitably lead to a decline in the mental and emotional health of those dependent? These are simple evolutionary principles we are talking about here. Despite what we would like to believe, human beings are evolved animals, in so much that we continuously evolve as any other creature on this planet does – be it by the doing of a divine being or a big bang, the evidence of science is still the same. Would we be so foolish as to allow unbeneficial traits to be bred into large portions of society by our own hand, even if doing so will only continue to influence the onslaught of mental illnesses, depression and dependence? We should be focusing our efforts on removing the vein of dependency, and redirecting individuals to programs that will nurture the intellectual capabilities so that in a future where complexity is common, entire categories of people will not be hindered by their ancestor’s inability to better themselves, and a system designed to ensure that there is a reason for this inability.

This system must change, and it is for this reason that I propose we enact an incentive initiative for those who seek assistance - be it in the form of courses that teach programming or other relative computer skills, or program goals that require participants of government programs to complete reading and writing assessments, financial management training, or gain skills in engineering. We must make an effort to not only keep those in need afloat, but also to better their chance of thriving in the future. We should empower those who need to take from the pot, to eventually possess the skills to be able to put back into it. This is the nature of a self-sustaining system. These actions will see those who are currently, or were once addicted to a vein, to the trap of free income, no longer be dependent on a system that is taking from those who are producing, to give to those who have no choice but to further cripple the intellectual capacity and the probability of success, of future generations.

It is understandable that not every situation is the same. There will always be a select few who need help because they just need help. My proposed vision serves multiple purposes: It allows individuals to better themselves by requiring the learning valuable skills that will eventually lead to some finding good jobs in booming sectors. This type of system would also serve to eliminate those who milk the system as merely a way to pull an income without having to work for it. If one is not willing to seek a means to an end, said individual will not be allowed to simply sit around and collect a paycheck – despite what we like to think, there are many individuals who do slip through the cracks in this way. This type of system will also serve to strengthen the intellectual capabilities passed on to future generations. This may seem like a laughable point, or even one that offends some – the notion that intellectuality may not be even across the board – but the reality is that it’s fairly basic science which shows us the links between issues such as intelligence, heart disease and addiction, and how they are passed on through our genes. It is well known amongst scientists that family history is a strong predictor of who is most at risk for becoming addicted. Biology – for example, age, and presence of other diseases – and environmental influences – such as stress, diet, and peer pressure – do play a significant role, but according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by a compulsion, despite it’s harmful consequences. This disease process is the same regardless of what a person abuses. Like many other diseases, addictions are preventable and treatable, but left untreated, their damaging effects can last a lifetime – and genetics account for 40 to 60 percent of a person's vulnerability to addiction. While it is true that we are far more advanced than any other species on this planet, the rules do still apply. Certain traits and patterns of thinking will be inherited, and so, passed on to future generations, and this will eventually lead to the rewiring of our brains, even if only at a pace that is not apparent to the human eye. Eliminating dependencies and therefore the inherited traits of dependency will only serve to better our societies, and our species as a whole; and to that I say, we need not wait to advance such ideas.

Sources:

Census Statistics

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0691.pdf

Katherine Hall: Web Article

http://www.qualityhealth.com/mental-health-articles/addiction-hereditary

Boughton, Barbara. "APA 2009: Family History Linked to Alcoholism but Does Not Predict Remission."  

American Psychiatric Association (APA) 2009 Annual Meeting: Abstract NR2-017. Presented May 18, 2009. Medscape Medical News. Web. 25 May 2009.t;>http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/703251

National Institutes on Health. National Institute of Drug Abuse. "Drug Abuse and Addiction." Web. http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/addiction.html

National Institutes on Health. National Institute of Drug Abuse. "NIH Researchers

Complete Unprecedented Genetic Study That May Help Identify People Most at Risk for Alcoholism." Press release, August 24, 2006. Web.http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/06/NR8-24.html

National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Genetics & Addiction." Heads Up. Web.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/PDF/Scholastic/HeadsUp-Student-Yr7.pdf

Brody, Jane. "Addiction: A Brain Ailment, Not a Moral Lapse." Behavioral Health Digest9(4). Web. http://behaviorhealth.org/addiction.htm 

About Me: I am a Software Engineer w/ a Masters in Computer Science, a business man -- holding a Bachelors in Business with a focus in Enterprise Administration from Fordham University, Magna Cum Laude -- a writer, a blogger, a philosopher, a philanthropist, a veteran, and an all around thinker and do'er. My purpose is to point out that there is a reason for everything and an opinion for every reason. I am designed to interpret what I see and dictate what I've interpreted. My hope is that my words will not be seen as harsh, rather as liberating, and at very least, thought provoking. I enjoy everything from technology, to race relations, biology, genetics and economics.. for a start..  

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