Fake News and the New McCarthyism

[portlander23]

Fake News and the New McCarthyism
John Buell
Common Dreams

Behind the façade of a concern about fake news, the Post featured an article by Craig Timberg that cited—without challenge—an anonymous website, PropOrNot, listing numerous other sites purported to be purveyors of fake news. As Max Blumenthal reported for AlterNet, "the anonymous website argued that all of the named sites should be investigated by the federal government and potentially prosecuted under the Espionage Act as Russian spies. They were accused for wittingly or unwittingly spreading Russian propaganda."

This story especially caught my attention because one of the fingered websites—Naked Capitalism—has long been one of my favorite sources. In addition to meticulous coverage of finance, the site provides in depth analysis of both mainstream economics and contemporary and historic alternatives. All those upon whom economics 101 is being inflicted should consult entries by Philip Mirowski and Philip Pilkingotn. You will never think the same about simple supply and demand. Designating this site as a purveyor of fake—even Russian supplied-- news while providing no evidence for the claim is surely libelous. Charges of Russian interference in our election—thus far without any specific evidence beyond agency assertions —should be investigated but ought not to become an occasion to harass domestic critics of US policy.

Fake news is a real problem as is the violence it can incite. At the very least such violence should be identified and its perpetrators punished. Libel laws should be enforced with regard to innocents targeted by such mega giants as Bezos and his journalistic toy. The problems of fake news are not going to be resolved by establishing a private corporate cop or censor for the internet nor by establishing one more secretive watchdog. The Washington Post and the CIA are both propagators of fake news. This is one more argument for both net neutrality and a more robust anti-trust enforcement. The best answer to fake news is a more diverse media.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

1. deleted

Nevermind, was thinking of AlterNet.

[Initech]

2. They say it's always darkest just before the dawn.

You can't get much darker than this. I'm afraid the outrage machine is going to get people killed. The deplorables are frothing at the mouth angry at that douche who accosted Ivanka Trump this morning, and calling for his head.

[Caliman73]

3. The answer to fake news

Diversity in media is one of the solutions, though the proliferation of websites and blogs can also be a problem because you can print and even source information fraudulently and some portion of the population will accept it as fact. The Bush administration was good at that. They would drum up false stories, feed it to respected media outlets, then go out to the press and site the media outlets they fed the information to as definitive sources.

All information has an agenda. That is what one of my professors in undergrad taught me. What people have to do is dig, and dig, and dig until the agenda is revealed. The answer to fake news is critical thinking. It is a difficult answer and one that a lot of people do not want to bother with (which is why we have this problem). We all need to be critical thinkers and question every source, even if it comports with our own views. I am a progressive and what infuriates me is when I see inaccurate or worse, biased information designed to mislead coming from our side. Why? because it makes it easier for people to discredit other information coming from a Progressive angle. Having a point of view is not a problem, but sacrificing fact and integrity to push that point of view is wrong, no matter what.

We expect it from conservatives. Their name signifies what they are trying to do, namely conserve power, conserve dominance, conserve practices and traditions that are no longer supported by new information. Progressives on the other hand are about movement forward as a whole. We value information, even when it challenges our assumptions. We struggled to integrate new information into our lives in a complex world for the benefit of all.

The answer to fake news is diligence and dialogue.

[NCTraveler]

4. Old school McCarthyism is alive and well.

This is McCarthyism.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/10/28/read-the-letter-comey-sent-to-fbi-employees-explaining-his-controversial-decision-on-the-clinton-email-investigation/?utm_term=.82557efc5095