Saturday, October 23, 2021

D.L. Gardner: Is ignorance truthfully blissful?

Ignorance is bliss. This statement characterizes the motto of the majority of America’s corporate news media. “Crisis at the border!” Media: “None that we can see.” “Islamic terrorists torturing and murdering thousands in Afghanistan!” Media: “Afghanistan is no longer in the news cycle.” “Grocery and gasoline prices are surging higher while store shelves empty out!” Media: “Today’s economic problems are high class problems.”


Fox News celebrated 25 years of news coverage recently. They were late to the cable news game, but quickly grew a base of viewers that more than doubles all other cable news channels combined. Nevertheless, the big three broadcast networks ABC, CBS, and NBC dominate television news with overwhelming numbers of viewers. 


But, who do viewers trust the most? A poll from USA Today and Suffolk University at the end of last year ranked Fox News as the most trusted source for television news. The big three broadcast networks fared much worse in the trust category with numbers in the single digits. 


Americans’ trust in media, government, academia, and a host of other institutions has been declining for years. Our choices of institutions depends much more on which ones we like than on any level of trust. We may not trust our choices, but we like them better than the alternatives. That’s likely why Trump won in 2016 and may be why he lost in 2020, not that election fraud may have played an undermining role. 


In 2016 American voters were fed up with big government and career politicians. A red wave swept over the nation from state houses and legislatures to the White House and Congress. Do Americans trust President Biden and Democrat politicians? Not really. Polls show plummeting levels of approval across the board for Biden and his political priorities. 


Oh sure, President Biden never posts mean tweets, and verbally attacks others only when he’s having a bad day. In fact Biden rarely makes more than a few public comments about anything, and even more rarely answers questions from the press. Former President Trump has probably received more news coverage than Biden over the past ten months. 


No doubt those who voted for Trump in 2020 are extremely frustrated not only with Biden and Democrats’ handling of … well, everything, but even more frustrated that media cover up all the piles of messes Biden & Co. have made so far. And, Trump voters routinely shake their heads when Biden voters are ignorantly blissful about how things are going in America. The only problems Biden voters see are people who will not conform to government mandates and who refuse to let educators be solely in charge of their children’s education. 


Middle and working class Americans are suffering the pains of socialistic politics, policies, and mandates. We should have listened to Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, when he wrote in his memoir that Joe Biden had “been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades….” So far, President Biden has been wrong on nearly every decision and policy he has made or annulled whether foreign or domestic. 


The academy has been teaching for decades there is no absolute truth. Is the academy absolutely sure? Ignorance may be bliss, but knowing and trusting in absolute truth is revolutionary and liberating.  


Daniel L. Gardner is a syndicated columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at PJandMe2@gmail.com.

 

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Americans’ trust in media, government, academia, and a host of other institutions has been declining for years.

No, CONSERVATIVES’ trust has been waning.

I don’t know a single democrat that doesn’t bow at the feet of government, media, academia, and institutions. The funny thing is the majority are so “woke” they have NO IDEA what they are supporting… hence, Joe Biden.

Anonymous said...

Is ignorance bliss?
Hell yeah. This entire nation is ignorant by design.
If the majority of Americans really had a clue, this entire house of cards would collapse.
I don’t really care what is happening in Afghanistan because we were there based on lies to begin with.
I am not scared one iota of illiterate goat fuckers no matter how much the media tries to convince me that I should be.

Anonymous said...

For the first time, this is a topic where I respect Daniel’s opinion. He would know better than most.

Anonymous said...

@3:33 PM
Lies?
You mean to tell me bin Laden didn’t huff and puff and blow the towers down?

Anonymous said...

"Ignorance is bliss."

Guy from Starkpatch would know!


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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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