First Amendment Reporters

            Our First Amendment rights were designed for one reason and one only, to allow Americans the right to speak openly and publicly about their concerns as to which way the government is going. There were no intentions to allow profanity. There were no intentions to allow vulgar painting. There were no intentions to allow libel or slander. Those things all came along with social humanists sitting on the Supreme Court. The newspapers were the high tech method of providing information to as many people as possible in the shortest time-frame. Before that notices were posted on the church door, like Martin Luther did. It is because of the written word, the spoken word, and the communication of ideas about government with those words that we see the clause about freedom of speech.

            In earlier times, journalists took great pains to make sure all facts addressed in any given writing/speech were true. Absolutely true. The more important the individual speaking those words, the higher the likelihood of a bigger staff of researchers to ensure the legitimacy of the words. Are there journalists still around? I believe perhaps there are. These folks take the time necessary to cross reference quotes, dig into story background, and never ever print a statement they haven’t proven to be true. Today, even with the advent of the internet and all the words posted there, we have difficulty determining what truth is.

            The issue at hand remains the others. Perhaps we can get a better grasp of their inadequacy if we view them as reporters rather than journalists. A reporter has no conscious need of determining facts. Their word choice slides into one viewpoint or the other with enough slant to subtly influence viewers. They are rarely encouraged to think independently; hence they kowtow to the chief editor’s point of view. These are the people gearing their presentations to sixth grade education. They will pound the airways/internet with misinformation for as long as it takes to make their viewpoint considered to be true, whether it is or not, and they are generally paid well to do so.

            With all the reporters talking on the news shows, blogging across the internet, and making presentations on stages it’s no wonder our world is upside down. It’s no wonder our federal government extends its tentacles into every aspect of our lives outside of the Constitution’s original intent. Few have read it and fewer still speak to the abuse, especially the news who use reporters rather than journalists.