The reason ANY political forum can be so infuriating, so volatile, is that we are all on the outside looking in.
We then look to the media to paper over the cracks in our surmises and guesses, present the "truths" (objectively) to us, and help us to form considered opinions.
Sadly, the standard of journalism these days is now reaching very very abysmal lows, (i.e. where's the media re. the Thomson allegations?. Lots of examples of of cheap and nasty, pebble skimming the (deep and murky) waters resulting in wild guesses - sloppy, biased, convoluted and deliberately skewed opinion and hasty conclusions, highly subjective, passed of to us as "truths".
In a recent instance I am very familiar with, a so-called "higher profile" journalist who decided they are on a "mission" actually proceeds to source "facts" by misrepresenting themself to prospective interviewees, telling them "so and so said to speak to you" (when they didn't!) and then proceeds to repeat resultant fabrications by writing these untruths into a headlines article, which then sets out these malicious entirely untrue and defamatory claims about someone's actions, falsehoods which this journo's passing off in a prominent article as absolute fact, when it is in fact malicious third hand gossip. Trouble is, worryingly, stacks of people DO believe everything they read in a newspaper.
Such a situation is exacerbated when political journalists, supposedly objective and professional, openly and blatantly barrack for their side of politics with every single word they write in print or say on TV.
And then they have the nerve to pass themselves off as "icons" in their field - untouchable, quick to run for the "defamation" threat if anyone dares question their motives, question their integrity or balance or investgatory methods; they cruise through life in self-admiring, hugely self-opinionated self-aggrandising strutter fashion. "How dare you criticse me" is the attitude. I am (the great) blah blah! Well, no. actually you are not. othing great about any journalist with no sense of integrity or ethics or fairminded balanced reporting.
Journalistic integrity?? Ethics? Wouldn't know them if they tripped over them! They never fought a battle for truth in their lives!
Politicians are the same. "I am the great blah blah". How dare you criticise or question me and the job I'm doing!" Well, no, mate! Or matess! Actually, you're just another public servant, exalted into a high position you;re very often not suited for, and cannot handle. Reliant on the taxpayer's payroll. You've been put there to do a job, not manufacture your own fiefdom.
Makes me want to throw up, actually. This mutual admiration society of plotters and sycophants.
It's a out and out disgrace. But thus is the way of the world. Makes one wonder how "good" thrives at all, frankly. And seems to outweigh the evils.
There are always those good men (and women) who will do their utmost - give their all - to withstand evil - and lies. Even if they lose the battle - in the bitter end.
