If the UK had had Fox News for the past 25 yrs , would British people be just as stupid ?
56-60, M
This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
plungesponge · 41-45, M
It's occurred to me before that the existence of Fox News (and the openly liberal networks as well) is an offshoot from the USA's roughly 50/50 split between two major political parties, and also its freedom of press.
That's a rare combination really, it can only happen in a democracy, and even in most democracies the split between parties is either lopsided or divided into more than two major factions. And most countries may have freedom of press but culturally people are more restrained, especially in societies previously dominated by monarchy like the UK.
So I don't think it's so much a case of a population being dumber or smarter as much as it is how over-the-top the partisan media elements are allowed to go without turning off the moderate voters
That's a rare combination really, it can only happen in a democracy, and even in most democracies the split between parties is either lopsided or divided into more than two major factions. And most countries may have freedom of press but culturally people are more restrained, especially in societies previously dominated by monarchy like the UK.
So I don't think it's so much a case of a population being dumber or smarter as much as it is how over-the-top the partisan media elements are allowed to go without turning off the moderate voters
RodionRomanovitch · 56-60, M
@plungesponge ' as much as it is how over-the-top the partisan media elements are allowed to go '
Doesn't that date back to some (fairly recent)law which relaxed the rules for broadcasters to be given a licence ?
Doesn't that date back to some (fairly recent)law which relaxed the rules for broadcasters to be given a licence ?
plungesponge · 41-45, M
@RodionRomanovitch Sounds about right, and there's so much big money in politics/media in the US