If I were to tell the truth about every omission committed by the media, I would need to write a book instead of an essay. Because I have no advertisers to please, I can relate the facts to you; facts which you’ll never hear from the major media.

How does the media get away with omitting the complete truth? The answer is very sad. The American people are the least informed citizens in the developed world. They believe what the hear and see on television and from politicians. They are too lazy to read and research the facts.

Let’s begin with the truth about the two political parties. Republicans do not represent the working class, minorities, women, or the LGBT community. As a whole they are racist and bigoted. If you doubt me, look at the record. Democrats are not perfect, but their policies do have positive effect on the working class.

Republicans like to call themselves conservatives, but that is untrue. Most of them have become reactionaries. In addition, you cannot be a conservative and increase the Pentagon’s budget; approximately 50 percent of their yearly allotment becomes waste; again, fact check this statement.

You will hear a great deal of praise for Antonin Scalia in the next few days. The truth is that his death may save the Constitution. He claimed to believe in an exact interpretation of the Law of the Land, but only until bending it suited his personal beliefs. He is guilty of supporting the wealthy and of having disdain for the poorest Americans.

Although Ronald Reagan is revered, and almost worshipped as ‘God-like’ by most Republicans, his image has never been accurately portrayed. First of all, he would be ashamed of this group in 2016. He believed in diplomacy which resulted in a nuclear arms treaty. Although his first term was effective, by the end of his second term he had greatly harmed the working class with his theory of ‘trickle-down’ economics. When he left office, the nation was three-trillion-dollars in debt and unemployment was at 10.8 percent.

Ebola was hyped so much by the media that our nation was riddled with fear. Fear is damaging to human life, far more so than was the Ebola virus. Selling advertising and increasing ratings was more important than the truth.

Some on the right wing claim that religion is being attacked in America today; they are correct. The problem is that every other religion with the exception of Christianity is in danger. Conservatives have used fear, anger, and hatred to reject the first amendment for millions of Americans, like myself, who are not Christians.

The reason that the Republican Party is falling apart, and Donald Trump is leading the polls for the party’s nomination, is directly attributed to the rise of the extremist TEA Party. The Party of No was allowed to take true Republicans hostage under the weak leadership of Mitch McConnell and John Boehner. The result has been gridlock.

Thirty-three innocent Americans die from gunshot wounds each day in our country; that translates to more than 30,000 each year. No other developed nation in the world comes close to these numbers, and the GOP continues to support the NRA lobby, while denying the rights of the majority. As with other amendments, the second must be modified for the common good. Not one journalist in the major media will have the courage to report these facts.

Our nation’s people have been trained to live in fear since September 11, 2001. Fearing terrorist attacks is ignorant. The American people can do nothing about these cowardly and evil thugs. We, the people, must remove fear and reinstitute compassion and hope. It is the responsibility of our leaders to safeguard the American people.

Both 9/11 and the Iraq War were preventable. Bush and Cheney were given top level information before the attacks on our soil occurred, but they chose to ignore them. They were advised that attacks were imminent, but their vacations were more important.

Donald Trump repeated what he said on CBS This Morning at last night’s ‘debate,’ and what I have reported many times; the invasion of Iraq was a lie, and war crimes were committed. Because of our nation’s intervention in the Middle East, the region was destabilized. The rise of ISIS is the direct result of a civil war in Iraq caused by the rash action of the Bush Administration. Sadly, we still have not learned that a war in the Middle East is unwinnable; just listen to Trump, Cruz, or Rubio.

Finally, the last thing you will never hear from the media is praise for President Obama’s efforts while in office. Facing an obstructionist Congress, he has brought our nation from the brink of a full depression; assisted millions of Americans who could not afford health care; he ended the archaic practice of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell; and he has restored much of our nation’s reputation around the world. None of today’s ‘so-called’ Republicans today could have accomplished all that he has in the last seven years.

All of this and much more is the truth; but don’t expect it to be reported in the media; they can’t risk losing viewers.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Photo Courtesy of Patrick Stahl

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