Originally Posted by Fear-And-Loathing

I've been studying this quite alot recently and I have come to the conclusion that the Vietnam war signified the beginning of another 'power' bloc within the US that is, one that equals if not surpasses the power of government. I would argue that the new 'Pillar' which arose from Vietnam and continues to dominate American life is of course, the Media.

During the Vietnam war, because many news companies did not approve and wanted to gain ratings they LIED about what was actually happening. This painted a very gloomy picture of what was happening on the ground which turned public opinion against the war and forced our withdrawal. However, when looking at the evidence in key battles such as Khe Sanh, Hue and many others the Media deliberately lied about what was happening and missed out news which would've increased support for the war, such as the massacres at Hue and the resounding failure on the Viet Congs part during the Tet offensive.

This hangover from Vietnam, that is the Media's control over the American population is incredible. The power of the Media is so strong now that our leaders have to lie to us about the real reasons for going to war. This is the legacy of Vietnam.

Originally Posted by catawba

I never claimed that 100,000 civilians died by American hands. I merely state the fact that our invasion and occupation has resulted in 100,000 civilian deaths.

This is figure approximates the numbers from Iraq Body Count, the most well documented, and highly regarded, source of civilian Iraq deaths from violence during our war with Iraq.
http://www.iraqbodycount.org/

Originally Posted by Fear-And-Loathing

This hangover from Vietnam, that is the Media's control over the American population is incredible. The power of the Media is so strong now that our leaders have to lie to us about the real reasons for going to war. This is the legacy of Vietnam.

Originally Posted by votetheoneyouhatetheleast

I'm an independent for one thing not a liberal. Just because I think Bush is an incompetent leader doesn't make me liberal, doesn't even exclude me from being republican, I choose to weigh up his actions and determine my own opinion, over blind party loyalty.

Originally Posted by votetheoneyouhatetheleast

I think our leaders were lying to us long before the media gained such power

Originally Posted by catawba

I never claimed that 100,000 civilians died by American hands. I merely state the fact that our invasion and occupation has resulted in 100,000 civilian deaths.

This is figure approximates the numbers from Iraq Body Count, the most well documented, and highly regarded, source of civilian Iraq deaths from violence during our war with Iraq.
http://www.iraqbodycount.org/

Originally Posted by Fear-And-Loathing

I've been studying this quite alot recently and I have come to the conclusion that the Vietnam war signified the beginning of another 'power' bloc within the US that is, one that equals if not surpasses the power of government. I would argue that the new 'Pillar' which arose from Vietnam and continues to dominate American life is of course, the Media.

During the Vietnam war, because many news companies did not approve and wanted to gain ratings they LIED about what was actually happening. This painted a very gloomy picture of what was happening on the ground which turned public opinion against the war and forced our withdrawal. However, when looking at the evidence in key battles such as Khe Sanh, Hue and many others the Media deliberately lied about what was happening and missed out news which would've increased support for the war, such as the massacres at Hue and the resounding failure on the Viet Congs part during the Tet offensive.

This hangover from Vietnam, that is the Media's control over the American population is incredible. The power of the Media is so strong now that our leaders have to lie to us about the real reasons for going to war. This is the legacy of Vietnam.

Originally Posted by Raharu Haruha

Judging from you avatar, you're liberal. I'm interested in the reason why. Liberals are the ones who support larger government - the government who has been lying to us long before the media.

Originally Posted by votetheoneyouhatetheleast

I'm an independent for one thing not a liberal. Just because I think Bush is an incompetent leader doesn't make me liberal, doesn't even exclude me from being republican, I choose to weigh up his actions and determine my own opinion, over blind party loyalty.

Originally Posted by Anikdote

Imagine a world where media was obligated to report on the issues fairly and without bias? I was of the belief that this was the job of a journalist, infact, the words in the first sentance at one time was the foundation that journalism was built on. Since then we're withered away to the point that you have to have media outlets serving both extremes of the Koolaid with none reporting the whole truth without the slant. Reading any article from any news outlet these days requires you to not just read between the lines but also to read behind the lines to take into account the bias of the author.