Okay, before you get your underwear of choice in a bunch, let me explain my premise. The principles of our founding fathers and the construction of the Constitution were unquestionably the greatest and most idealistic concepts in history. However, their precepts were based on ideological hopes and dreams, and discounted the inherent frailties of human beings. The men who wrote the Constitution were men who believed in deep thought, careful consideration, strong deliberation, and compromise. They were independent and influenced by facts rather than hyperbole. Most importantly, they did not have televisions.

It has been proven many times that most Americans receive their information; information which forms their beliefs; from what they see and hear on television. Therefore, what the television news networks choose to offer their viewers becomes the basics of American’s thoughts and beliefs.

Let me give you some facts about television broadcasts, and television “news” and its “journalists.”

When television news originated in 1947 with Edward R. Murrow’s “Meet the Press” on NBC, the networks were not eager to broadcast daily news. Simply put, it was not profitable. Advertisers were reluctant to spend their dollars on a broadcast which had a small viewership.

In 1949, the Federal Communications Commission established the “Fairness Act.” This act required the broadcast networks to “present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was—in the Commission’s view—honest, equitable, and balanced.” This was the beginning of daily news broadcasts. It is notable that the FCC removed the requirements of the “Fairness Act” in 1987, and abolished it in 2011. Fox “News” began broadcasting in 1996 without the requirement that facts be offered to the American people.

Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, and other famous and legitimate newsmen did not become wealthy reporting the events of the day. Today’s television “journalists” are paid millions of dollars a year to ‘entertain.’ In the 1950’s, television news lasted for one-half an hour. Today’s broadcasts last for one hour, two hours, and even 24 hours.

There is less real news today than there was in the 1950’s. Today’s “information” is incomplete and biased as the personalities openly offer their personal opinions and the opinions of their network.

The choices ABC, NBC, and CBS make daily influence what the American people believe. They are quick to report ‘sensational’ stories, but fail to offer information about our nation’s greatest evils and biggest problems.

America’s biggest problem is poverty, but you’ll never see it discussed on television. ICE is deporting undocumented workers in cruel and unusual ways which are unacceptable. White supremacy is a problem of growing proportions the news broadcasts fail to report. Right wing terrorism is far more deadly to the American people than radicalized Muslims. Hate crimes have risen 800 percent since Trump’s nomination, but this fact has been ignored. Trump’s “tax reform” will benefit the wealthy and greatly harm everyone else. Television news persons are all millionaires; you’ll never hear the truth from them. Although child molester Roy Moore lost his bid for the senate in Alabama, there were multiple reports of voter suppression in many of the black areas of the state. Did you learn about that on television?

I could go on and on about issues you will never hear about on television. The reason I claim that our nation’s evils are greater than its virtues is mostly due to the fact that much of the good is also unreported.

The reason Trumpcare was defeated was due to the efforts of thousands of Americans who protested in the streets and at their congressmen and senators offices. Television offered the ‘credit’ to three Republican Senators. When the elections in Virginia were over, we heard little about the hard work of the electorate to insure that the best candidates were elected. After Doug Jones won in Alabama, very little attention was paid to the true heroes of this historical election. Black women defeated Moore. They went to the polls in record numbers, and 98 percent of them voted for Jones.

My biggest complaint is that today’s television “journalists” refuse to ask difficult questions and demand answers. During the 2016 campaign, I watched Kellyanne Conway, Mike Pence, and other members of Trump’s campaign avoid answering questions; they were given a free pass.

Finally, since June of 2015 Donald Trump has been held to a far lower standard than any other politician in history. In many cases his crimes go unreported, including the fact that they are ignoring the truth that he is a white supremacist, and morally corrupt. While we heard endless stories about Harvey Weinstein and others revealing their numerous sexual assaults, Trump has been accused of similar crimes by 17 women and there is no discussion and no support for these courageous women.

The word is ‘hypocrisy.’ We see it in the Republican Party and, sadly, we see it in broadcast news. The fourth estate no longer exists; at least on television.

I have not watched a television broadcast on ABC, NBC, or CBS since November 9, 2016, and I never will again. I’ll find the truth online. It may require a little more effort, but the truth is worth it.

Please re-post; thank you.

Op-ed by James Turnage

My five novels are available on the free Amazon Kindle app; CLICK HERE