[umgud]

If the West's citizens had the fortitude, courage, and patience of our Grandparents, then our Pols and our Press would have the same.

They are simply a reflection of us.

I'm not sure I agree with this. I certainly do not believe our press is a reflection of us. Our press does everything in its power to make us believe they are mainstream and in sync with us, but it just ain't so. The pols? You may have a point there, however.

[roses of sharon]

But our press still has enormous power over us, they sway opinion polls regularly, they destroy reputations, they influence policy and our pols.

If we could not be swayed opinion polls would show it, and the news orgs corporate bodies would be changing and firing their Dem hacks left and right.