Let’s coin a new phrase: “junk Politics.” Like junk food and junk bonds. Cheap and addictive. Engineered to taste good but offering no nutrition. Junk Politics stimulates addictive receptors in the brain - particularly the reptilian brain - that drown out higher powers of thought and reasoning. Purveyors of Junk Politics stir up emotio…
Let’s coin a new phrase: “junk Politics.” Like junk food and junk bonds. Cheap and addictive. Engineered to taste good but offering no nutrition. Junk Politics stimulates addictive receptors in the brain - particularly the reptilian brain - that drown out higher powers of thought and reasoning. Purveyors of Junk Politics stir up emotions that offer a kind of emotional gratification while dooming their consumers to ultimate enslavement as their health deteriorates and they become unable to distinguish what’s good for them from what they are addicted to. We stood up against the tobacco companies and held them accountable. Can we defeat Junk Politics? Part of defeating an evil is by naming it for what it is. Democrats need catchy phrases like “fake news.” Why not “Junk Politics!”
Excellent. Thanks for this. I will borrow your phrase junk politics.
I don't own a television and the radio is broken in my car. Whenever I get around these 2 mediums I am stunned by the mind numbing noise, the invasive barrage of commercials and the contorted faces of so many commentators who are talking too loudly. Junk politics and rampant consumerism reign over our airwaves. The reporters are definitely pushing junk politics.
Lest I live in a bubble one of the places I check in is the Washington Post articles. This is there where I see the right wing trolls. They keep repeating the FOX mantras. And the Post keeps repeating the anti-Biden, false narratives, hyperbole headlines junk politics every day.
I'll scan the news headlines of FOX. Whew! They are truly another Universe.
I believe folks have been seduced into thinking CNN, NBC, New York Times etc. were giving us the big picture. Plus most of the people I work with could care less about what is happening to Democracy right now anyway.
I so agree about the shouting heads! I refer to them as used car salesmen (a really old stereotype). Why would you buy anything from someone who is talking fast & shouting?
And for positive phrasing how about a Democratic mantra- “Invest in America” to counter the “socialist” frame and recall the “we are in this together” FDR era?
Hi Barbara, My post wasn't so much about the news and the many excellent commentators. It was about the politicians on the right who are selling disinformation, lies, and authoritariansim. Junk. Toxic, dangerous junk!
Yes, Fox, et al are certainly junk media. Or maybe more like "toxic media." And for sure many excellent, ethical responsible journalists and writers out there are doing the best they can. We Dems need to take the "catch phrase" offensive and "Junk Politics" has a ring to it. Let's use this and any other simple phrases we can come up with to counter Trump's undeniable genius for coining simple minded but compelling language.
Unfortunately the slanted articles are not always labeled as opinion and are not in the opinion section. WaPo often has their headline piece as a hyperbolic headline against Biden.
An excellent phrase! I'll use it. We Democrats definitely need catchy, vivid phrases and themes. The voters we need to deprogram don't respond to big words, data, and reasoned treatises.
This is not “ junk”. We are fighting for our future and that of our grandchildren. We are in a civil war. I think we oughtto avoid any kind of dismissive language that implies this is not deadly serious
Let’s coin a new phrase: “junk Politics.” Like junk food and junk bonds. Cheap and addictive. Engineered to taste good but offering no nutrition. Junk Politics stimulates addictive receptors in the brain - particularly the reptilian brain - that drown out higher powers of thought and reasoning. Purveyors of Junk Politics stir up emotions that offer a kind of emotional gratification while dooming their consumers to ultimate enslavement as their health deteriorates and they become unable to distinguish what’s good for them from what they are addicted to. We stood up against the tobacco companies and held them accountable. Can we defeat Junk Politics? Part of defeating an evil is by naming it for what it is. Democrats need catchy phrases like “fake news.” Why not “Junk Politics!”
Excellent. Thanks for this. I will borrow your phrase junk politics.
I don't own a television and the radio is broken in my car. Whenever I get around these 2 mediums I am stunned by the mind numbing noise, the invasive barrage of commercials and the contorted faces of so many commentators who are talking too loudly. Junk politics and rampant consumerism reign over our airwaves. The reporters are definitely pushing junk politics.
Lest I live in a bubble one of the places I check in is the Washington Post articles. This is there where I see the right wing trolls. They keep repeating the FOX mantras. And the Post keeps repeating the anti-Biden, false narratives, hyperbole headlines junk politics every day.
I'll scan the news headlines of FOX. Whew! They are truly another Universe.
I believe folks have been seduced into thinking CNN, NBC, New York Times etc. were giving us the big picture. Plus most of the people I work with could care less about what is happening to Democracy right now anyway.
I so agree about the shouting heads! I refer to them as used car salesmen (a really old stereotype). Why would you buy anything from someone who is talking fast & shouting?
Because in your youngest years that’s all you knew and it remains what feels safest to you now when the world around you is coming apart at the seams
And for positive phrasing how about a Democratic mantra- “Invest in America” to counter the “socialist” frame and recall the “we are in this together” FDR era?
Yes even better!
Here is an excellent article from Dana Millbank:
"Opinion: The media treats Biden as badly as — or worse than — Trump. Here’s proof."
Washington Post, Dana Millbank. I give up on links.
Also to be fair. Millbank and Rubin and in the Washington Post are not junk reporters.
Hi Barbara, My post wasn't so much about the news and the many excellent commentators. It was about the politicians on the right who are selling disinformation, lies, and authoritariansim. Junk. Toxic, dangerous junk!
Understood. My point is that the media is perpetuating the rhetoric and lies of the politicians. So junk politics=junk media.
And I believe there are many many excellent and ethical journalists today. The problem is they are being drowned out.
I agree. Milbank, Rubin, and Sargent are excellent and provide context in their opinion columns that the supposed "reporters" refuse to do.
Yes, Fox, et al are certainly junk media. Or maybe more like "toxic media." And for sure many excellent, ethical responsible journalists and writers out there are doing the best they can. We Dems need to take the "catch phrase" offensive and "Junk Politics" has a ring to it. Let's use this and any other simple phrases we can come up with to counter Trump's undeniable genius for coining simple minded but compelling language.
Ok then. Let's use toxic media and junk politics. What do you think? You have created the brand name for a movement Ned.
Not reporters at all — opinion writers. Period.
Unfortunately the slanted articles are not always labeled as opinion and are not in the opinion section. WaPo often has their headline piece as a hyperbolic headline against Biden.
Hmmm. Fair point.
An excellent phrase! I'll use it. We Democrats definitely need catchy, vivid phrases and themes. The voters we need to deprogram don't respond to big words, data, and reasoned treatises.
Amen, Elizabeth!
Genius! Labeling has become so popular in politics and people don’t seem to want to be fully informed so “junk politics” a great phrase let’s use it!
EXCELLENT POST!! I will use this term. Thank you!
GOP: Bringing you Junk Politics for 40 years
This is not “ junk”. We are fighting for our future and that of our grandchildren. We are in a civil war. I think we oughtto avoid any kind of dismissive language that implies this is not deadly serious
What Cigarette Do You Smoke Doctor?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hxUZI0vE0FM
Trumpanzee — nice!