Freedom of press.

[Dill]

(03-02-2017, 06:04 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: So, Pew had a poll (I know, I know, polls bad, blah blah) and it was interesting to me. http://www.people-press.org/2017/03/02/large-majorities-see-checks-and-balances-right-to-protest-as-essential-for-democracy/

Specifically:


I'm kind of curious how folks on here feel. Is a free press essential to democracy? I'm not saying a press that in unaccountable and can just print whatever, but the ability for a press to be critical of the administration. Is that essential to a democracy? And this is for everyone, because this was also the lowest scoring one among Democrats on this.

Not sure what you are referring to here Bels. The poll you show says Dems overwhelming favor free press while less than half the Republicans do.  That is the result one would expect.

If we are talking about a liberal democracy in a modern, industrial state, then yes, a free press is essential.

A functioning democracy requires informed voters. The press "checks" government-disseminated information in both senses of the word--vetting information and blocking overreach. The press, when functioning properly, also provides context for current public discussion, the "backstory" needed to evaluate current policies and politicians actions.

However, much of our current dysfunction results from segments of the press which actively dis-inform.