Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Fireside Chat

        From March 12, 1933 to June 12, 1944 President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave 30 Presidential radio addresses, at a time when radio was a relatively new.  These casual radio chats ran for 14 to 33 minutes.  President Roosevelt talked about the depression, the banking crisis, the New Deal, and World War II.  He obviously felt the need to Give his messages directly to the people and not rely solely on the newspapers and the radio news networks. 
        The Founding Fathers knew the importance of honest reporting of the news in order to make the new republic work and survive.  In their time print media and word-of-mouth was the only way to report the news.  When radio changed that, President Roosevelt felt the need to address the people directly. 
        Television was the next new news media.  The televised Presidential debates between Kennedy and Nixon probably determined the outcome of the 1960 Presidential election. 
        With newspapers, radio, and television news, we would think that now the public would have easy access to what is happening with our government.  Not so.  Most news networks seem to have no problem slanting the news or actually reporting lies to fit their political agenda.  There are exceptions like FOX news, but they are in the minority. 
        Today, much of the public no longer trusts the media, and they no longer trust government officials.  How can the public not be skeptical when our Secretary of State can blame a video for the deaths at Benghazi when she knew it was a terrorist attack? 
        The last Presidential election proved that the media, political analysts, and political polls can’t be trusted.  The lame stream media is still trying to discredit Trump’s election.     
        President elect Trump recognizes that he can not depend on traditional news organizations.  He has used social media and political rallies very effectively and will continue to do so.  This is the only way he can get honest information to the public and control the political establishment. 
        I hope and pray that all news organizations start to honestly report the news, but that is probably just wishful thinking. 
        Merry Christmas and God bless America.  Let’s make America great again. 


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