And the only way to become a stockholder is....?

Pretty much because german voters hardly leave them a choice. Too much common ground.

+1

The problem with most radicals is that they do not recognize themselves as radicals.

The above statement is biased as it ascribes motives based on opinion, but the press as advocate began a long time prior to 1987.

It wasn't Walter Cronkite's place to declare the Vietnam war unwinnable in 1968.

History now tells us that the Tet offensive was a rather large military defeat, rendering the Viet Cong southern insurgency, combat ineffective. What militarily could have been a turning point for victory became politically, a turning point for failure.

Few would now disagree that the venture was a huge mistake from the beginning, but Cronkite had a huge amount of influence on the public and wasn't really qualified to make such a statement.

The press can and does agree on tables that have 4 legs, but the majority of "news" is more subjective.

The Reagan administration ending the requirement for balanced coverage is verifiable fact. The argument quoted is the reason given for implementing the change. "wealthy media owners should be able to have their organizations say what they damn well want" is my opinion of what it in effect meant.

Press advocacy did begin long ago. The question is whether it is necessarily a good thing and whether removing an obligation for balance is going to make the situation better or worse.

On Cronkite - true, in that by my argument he was crossing the boundary. I would say that in his particular case it was very much presented as a 'comment' piece. Such was his authority that it carried a lot of influence (too much). I would say that the direction of travel in the intervening years has been such that the situation has got much worse now though.

Also, does 'history show' what you say it shows? Note that the question about that moment in the Vietnam war is definitely a Class 2 one - it's not absolute indisputable fact in the same (simple) way that number of legs on a chair is - i.e. people could disagree with your interpretation.

Most of the 'interesting' stuff is anyway :)

The tables thing was just an easy example - main point was a lot of stuff is not just down to one's personal opinion which was where you seemed to be in your post.

Also, it can be difficult to know where exactly fact ends and opinion begins - and if your news media is distorting the situation from the very beginning it can be impossible.

----edit: rewritten for clarity and to expand some points

The very beginning would be the indoctrination that begins when one attends public school in USA. The teachers are all unionized. In other words, most hold liberal point of view. Only way to escape is to seek alternative view points. Fox News is one alternative. Private/Home schooling, another. For teachers unions, it is all about getting as much money as possible out of the taxpayer. Much of this money is re-allocated to administrators instead of teachers. Most people can discern who, what, where, when and why. They can still be scammed, but over time some get it figured out and some don't. If you come out of public school system and never look at opposing view, you will be exploited. Exhibit A, "rock the vote", "hope and change". All those youths jumping on the Obummer bandwagon now very sad and unemployed. Similar situation happened with Carter then swing to Reagan. Probably will happen again.

@ beowolf
if right/left are 50/50, that is not a nation in stagnation. that is a "moderate" view of utopia! Or call it a political equilibrium. But it is rare to have it last very long. There are always forces in play.

Indeed.

Frankly, I'm embarassed as an American to have someone who thinks like this representing our country. Not all Americans are this ignorant or racist.

You either get good teachers, those are well paid. Or you get bad teachers, which are badly paid. AFAIK, teachers in the US public schools are rather badly paid. [/QUOTE]

Not if they block each other in government to a degree that nothing can be done anymore. Democracy and a working society is all about compromise and the willingness to take a step back from your own convictions.

Frankly, I'm embarrassed to see a fellow American somehow find racism in that post.

Ridiculous.

Open your eyes!