RW undermines democracy at every opportunity

[wiggs]

Someone has said that a fully informed public is the basis of democracy.

The careful balancing act of the 9/11 commission report, the delay of part 2 until after the elections, and the undetectable progress of the McCain Iraq Commission (when is this starting?) all have the intended effect of withholding full information from voters. These are just recent examples. Over the long run, patterns of HIDING INFORMATION and of DISINFORMATION abound that deny us and legislators an informed process of voting and decision-making. This must be a theme that Kerry/Edwards fleshes out because it is clear, overarching, and should make all of us angry.

Most voters, those who don't do online research and keep their ears to the wall, are denied accurate information by this administration and its accomplices in a variety of ways:

Muddying the waters by attacking the credibility of critics (O'Neill, Dean, Wilson, McCain, Kerry, Clarke, etc. etc)

Offering of cherry picked scientific information

Cherry-picking of intelligence input

Punishing of reports who ask interesting questions (Thomas)

RW pundits whose pseudo-journalism provides distortions under the guise of information

Secrecy in policy making (energy task force)

Secrecy in general (Dean's book explains the dangers to democracy)

Sealing of past and present presidential papers for longer terms

Lying to congress and the public about program costs (Medicare)

Redacting of reports to protect information that shouldn't be classified (removal of Saudi references)

Gagging of federal employees (Edmonds)

Punishment of whistleblowers (Wilson) providing info to public

Destruction of records (9-11 control tower, Bush military records)

Reliance on ideology and slogans rather than research and truth

Using fear to obviate the need for thoughtful consideration (labeling opponents as evil, as threats to safety, as threats to our way of life (gay marriage), etc)

Labeling horrific legislation with misleading titles (Healthy Forests, No Child Left Behind, etc.)

No transparency in costs of war on terror and war on Iraq (re-allocation of 700,000,000, withholding of Iraq costs from budget)

Stating falsehoods over and over until they catch on

Assignment of judges to bench without Congressional approval

Withholding requested information from Congress (whatever happened to Ashcroft for withholding unclassified memos from Congress?)



We could go on and on...but the examples are less important than the dangerous overall theme: this administration and its cohorts intend to control information by hiding and/or distorting it to an unbelievable extent that should have everyone (including conservatives) in a state of outrage. This is a basic fundamental issue that Kerry should state he will deal with differently. Can he resurrect one of the best things that he said in this campaign, that these guys are the most CROOKED BUNCH OF LIARS he's ever seen? Let's hear that again! I bet it would resonate more now than 4 months ago.

[Worst Username Ever]

1. That someone

was Lincoln.

[tom_paine]

2. Yes the Bushevik Imperials are Kinder and Gentler Monsters

but monsters, nonetheless...

[tandot]

3. How about manipulating science and distorting scientific findings

http://www.house.gov/reform/min/politicsandscience/

Politics & Science

http://www.house.gov/reform/min/politicsandscience/report.htm

The Report
Politics and Science in the Bush Administration

The American people depend upon federal agencies to develop science-based policies that protect the nation’s health and welfare. Recently, however, leading scientific journals have begun to question whether scientific integrity at federal agencies has been sacrificed to further a political and ideological agenda.

In August 2003, at the request of Rep. Henry A. Waxman, the Democratic staff of the Government Reform Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives assessed the treatment of science and scientists by the Bush Administration. The resulting report found numerous instances where the Administration has manipulated the scientific process and distorted or suppressed scientific findings. Beneficiaries include important supporters of the President, including social conservatives and powerful industry groups.

[billybob537]

4. Neo- McCarthyism.