The Media, Free Speech, and the Westboro Baptist Church

The media is a plague in our society. I think we can all agree with that. The media, everyday, focuses on the morbid, the frightening, and the celebrities (or was that redundant?). Charlie Sheen's highly-publicized meltdown has garnered millions of hits on Youtube, and dragged millions of viewers to otherwise boring talk-shows that have invited him. Yes, his quotes are hilarious (go look up one of his interviews if you haven't yet) but is this REALLY what the media should be focused on, over-paid celebrities whose jobs are to entertain us, not have us worship them?

The media is, in essence, an economic institution, albeit a large one. To understand the media, we must analyze it from an economist's perspective. Media companies, like any other, are formed and maneuvered to maximize profit, not to benefit society. What they choose to bring to the market by airing on t.v. (SUPPLY) is what we as a people want (DEMAND). While we can be angry that the media focuses on the "gloom and doom," we have only ourselves to blame, for we, as a society, will watch the dramatic and frightening, which will make the media MORE MONEY.

This demand stems from what novelist Joseph Conrad referred to as the "fascination of the abomination," which stated simply that humanity has an inherent, morbid curiosity. Though, as an enlightened individual, you believe this is disgusting, it applies very accurately to society as a whole.

Let's look at some examples that portray the evils that these concepts bring about. Number one? Terrorism. Like it's namesake, terrorism is not about purely killing, but inspiring fear, and nothing does that better than murder. However, if a terrorist kills someone in a forest, and no one is around to see it, does it reverberate across America? NO. The media's focus on 9/11, for instance, spread fear across the nation, something which could have been easily controlled by limiting its publicity. Our media, therefore, can act as an instrument for terrorists across the world. Why does the media publicize 9/11, then? Because it's a HUGE NEWS STORY, and brought in BILLIONS, because that's what people wanted to read about, and you can't fault them for that. And that is why terrorism works.

Another example is the recently decided Westboro court case, in which Westboro won (8-1), allowing them to continue protesting at soldiers' funerals (they believe that a soldier's death is God's punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuals). There is another reason they picket at military funerals, however, and that's publicity. By demonstrating at these big events, they can spread their message across the nation (via media coverage) and inspire hatred, fear, and even some support. They are obviously less effective than terrorists (most people understand they're just whack jobs), but it satisfies what they want, and so they continue to slander our nation's finest. Again, because society demands it, the media brings it.

The tough question is, can we resolve this? Blocking the media would inhibit freedom of the press. Blocking Westboro (according to the Supreme Court) precludes free speech. The media also has some societal benefits, so a tax/subsidy to correct an externality wouldn't work. The best we can do, right now, is inform the public of consequences of their thirst, and that's why I've taken the time to write this.

The Great Invisible Fence

In an exercise of the practice of limited-government, I feel I should take some time to address and explore an absurd problem and an even more absurd solution. Drug trafficking has endangered the lives of countless Americans, not to mention millions of South Americans, and is seemingly unaffected by its title of illegality. Crime will always occur on Earth, there is no doubt. It seems, then, that the most effective way to lower crime rates is to reduce the list of actions we consider to be crimes! If everything were legal, there would be no crime! This sounds inane, yes, and would not work at such an extreme, but there is truth to be found in it. Laws are established to help guide, but can never fully enforce. For something as large as international drug trade, then, these "guidelines" are reduced to mere "suggestions."

The only solution, then, is to consider more drugs "legal" in America. Now, precautions

must be taken for this to work. To legalize drugs would mean to give people easier access to

drugs, and lower the skyrocketing demand that makes South American drug trade so profitable

and irresistible. In this way, we can lower the amount of smugglers entering the country. Still,

however, we'd have a whole basketful of druggies, which is an obvious health problem waiting

to happen. What to do? Sin tax. Allow people to apply for licenses to sell drugs under

government inspection, and charge a HUGE tax (but still low enough to keep people from

reverting to underground trade. Money will cause people to buy less, and what they do buy will

aid the government (and hopefully end income tax). Drug trade without a license will be illegal,

still, and the drug business will function much like the gun business now (with the bugs fixed?).

Since only drug TRAFFICKING will be illegal, then, it will be much easier for police forces to

hunt down suppliers, instead of every speck of cocaine in America. Finally, our government,

who seems to have the DESIRE to choke the economy in its grip, will have a business under

their control, more or less, and can keep an even tighter reign on it that with tobacco, making

these drugs even more harmless to society AS A WHOLE, in a sense.

And boom. Less smuggling from below the border, less crime in the States, more money

for our massively in-debt government. And a Great Invisible Fence shall protect our people.

You're welcome, world.

New Year's Eve

Tomorrow, when I wake up, I expect a rush of freedom and lightheartedness. Failing that, I shall see 2010 as a continuation of time, rather than a "New Year," which implies a sense of starting and stopping; of discontinuous time. Happy New Year, and welcome 2010.

A Little Q&A

Some say there's an answer to every question, and I wholeheartedly agree. If a question can be proposed, the government can sure develop a BS answer. The saying loses credibility if you are actually looking for a GOOD answer, however.

Dealing with Chickens

Chickens are interesting creatures. There are currently more chickens than humans. Chickens have also become the focus of some of humankind's most philosophically-challenging questions. For example, which came first? The chicken, or the egg? And why did the chicken cross the road to get to the other side?

Starting with the latter, I have chosen to interpret this "joke" as indicative of the importance that "progress" plays in our society. The chicken crosses the road to move forward, the get to the other side so that it may continue its journey.

The former question is a little tougher. If you tried to explain it with evolution, you would have to define the exact moment the bird-ancestor evolved into the modern-day chicken. In a more abstract sense, the question would be one of a person's foundation (constructed from morals and beliefs). This question would be more personal, then, and not have a correct answer for the general society.

First Post

These posts are designed to make you think or see things from a different perspective. Some are simple witty comments, while others are deep philosophical questions. Today is my first of many to come.

For instance, if humankind had not discovered the things they did in the order they did so, would all of history be different? Would we have inventions designed for a whole new set of objectives?

On the Concept of Thought

To start this blog, I would like to establish a groundwork for how I shall manage the page. To do this, I must note my own background, though you shall get to understand me better as this blog continues. I am one who relishes pure intellectual fare, one who savors the taste of thought on the tongue. Being so, I often acquire ideas (for it is mostly unintentional) that may be nothing more than to satisfy the appetite of a like-minded creature in need of an intellectual exercise, or they may be so much more. I have come to enjoy sharing these ideas with others, seeking only the reactions of my peers, positive and negative. I used to share these in my daily life and even via Facebook, yet I have accumulated so many daily thoughts that I have decided to dedicate a blog to them alone.

The activities of this blog will be quite simple. When I feel that sudden impulse to post a thought of mine, I shall post it here. You, as the reader, may be free to sample them as you like, and comment as you please.

And with that said...