[a fool in paradise]

>>What should thoughtful people do about this overarching problem? Part of the answer lies with my profession, the news business. We need to work harder to make sure that we’re unbiased truth-tellers, not a series of echo chambers. When every story in a newspaper or on a website or cable channel seems to be going in the same direction, that’s a sign that something’s wrong. That’s one reason I’d like to see a return of ombudsmen, to hold news organizations more accountable.

Every damned crooked member of Journo-List that conspired and colluded to frame the day’s talking points and even coordinated “press conference” questions should have been exposed by name on the front page of every paper and run out of town.

That they weren’t shows that the MSM has ZERO interest in honest and objective journalism. They serve the DNC and network the messaging so everyone spouts from the same script.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

What should thoughtful people do about this overarching problem?

We should eschew cynicism, but apply reasonable skepticism broadly:

The natural disposition is always to believe. It is acquired wisdom and experience only that teach incredulity, and they very seldom teach it enough. The wisest and most cautious of us all frequently gives credit to stories which he himself is afterwards both ashamed and astonished that he could possibly think of believing.

The man whom we believe is necessarily, in the things concerning which we believe him, our leader and director, and we look up to him with a certain degree of esteem and respect. But as from admiring other people we come to wish to be admired ourselves; so from being led and directed by other people we learn to wish to become ourselves leaders and directors . . .

The desire of being believed, the desire of persuading, of leading and directing other people, seems to be one of the strongest of all our natural desires. - Adam Smith, Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759)

One reason to reject cynicism is that cynicism is an antonym for “faith” - and “without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Another reason to reject cynicism, IMHO, is that cynicism actually is a rejection of skepticism about the opposite of whatever you are cynical about. Are you, Mr. journalist, cynical about Judge Roy Moore? Then you are actually naive about his accusers. Are you, Mr. socialist, cynical about society? Then you are naive about government.