Paul Krugman worries about the main-streaming of ultra-right-wing nuttery vis-a-vis the likes of Glenn Beck. I mentioned this a while back actually. Things will get worse before they get better.
the big hate
E.D. Kain is a blogger and freelance writer. Currently he serves as Editor-in-Chief of The League of Ordinary Gentlemen and writes a tech blog at Forbes. Visit his politics blog here. He can be found occasionally composing 140 character cultural analysis on Twitter. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The National Review, The Washington Examiner, and the now-defunct True/Slant. You can also contact him via email.
Will Truman 
Kim 
DensityDuck 
Mark Thompson 
Randy Harris 
Plinko 
Teacher 
Borat: “I do a picture, only small, of the Tishnik Masacre. Where many Uzbeks…crushed!”
Kindly Gray Hippie: “How did you feel when you drew this?”
Borat: “Very proud!”.
KGH: “I’m just listening with sadness…a little sadness for your people…?”
Borat: “Yes…no, it is not sad. It is us who do the kill!”
When in doubt,
{ 2 comments }
It has long been my take that this is a symptom of a deeper problem and is not, in and of itself, the problem.
If anything, I’d compare Beck and those guys to anti-Colonial types railing against the Colonists.
I suspect a healthy return to Federalism would solve this problem (it would give a location to which one could “leave it” if one did not “love it”).
Indeed, it will get worse before it gets better… because a healthy return to Federalism ain’t in the cards.
Not to discount your worries but does the mainstreaming of Glenn Beck et al, actually matter when today, one can get all the conspiracy theory craziness anyone needs from talk radio, websites, blogs, etc… (Ron Paul supporters?)
Isn’t Beck’s presence simply a recognition of a market/demand for his commentary amongst people who think legitimacy belongs to their views and not necessarily the views that are on cable (ala the liberal media bias) or in major papers?
Alas, at this point, I wonder what – if anything – can be done.
I will say, however, that I agree with the Mistress of HuffPo when she argued that outlets that aspire to journalistic integrity should stop moderating uncritical discussions between opposing sides as though each point of view is equally valid.
Ultimately, I think I’m as worried as you, but I can’t help but feel that Paul Krugman’s concerns amount to journalistic/punditry NIMBYism.
Comments on this entry are closed.