False equivalency

Journalism as currently practiced has major problems.  House Republicans caused the recent government shutdown and the run-up to the U.S. government nearly defaulting on its financial obligations.  That was clearly obvious to any neutral observer.

Nonetheless, much of the media treated the crisis as though it was equally caused by the Obama administration and the House Republicans.  A frequent refrain was “a pox on both your houses.”

Increasingly, objectivity is sacrificed on the altar of “equivalency.”  The overwhelming scientific consensus says that global warming is caused by human activity, but reporters search out some whack job who denies that global warming is even happening.  That provides “balance.”

Note what is happening here.  Obvious falsehoods are given equal weight to objective facts.  Tea Party silliness treated with respect and is given equal time to reasonable and factual arguments.

Rest assured, you won’t find that here.  On this blog bullshit will remain bullshit.