Paul Krugman worries about the main-streaming of ultra-right-wing nuttery vis-a-vis the likes of Glenn Beck. I mentioned this a while back actually. Things will get worse before they get better.
Erik Kain
Erik writes about video games at Forbes and politics at Mother Jones. He's the contributor of The League though he hasn't written much here lately. He can be found occasionally composing 140 character cultural analysis on Twitter.
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It has long been my take that this is a symptom of a deeper problem and is not, in and of itself, the problem.
If anything, I’d compare Beck and those guys to anti-Colonial types railing against the Colonists.
I suspect a healthy return to Federalism would solve this problem (it would give a location to which one could “leave it” if one did not “love it”).
Indeed, it will get worse before it gets better… because a healthy return to Federalism ain’t in the cards.Report
Not to discount your worries but does the mainstreaming of Glenn Beck et al, actually matter when today, one can get all the conspiracy theory craziness anyone needs from talk radio, websites, blogs, etc… (Ron Paul supporters?)
Isn’t Beck’s presence simply a recognition of a market/demand for his commentary amongst people who think legitimacy belongs to their views and not necessarily the views that are on cable (ala the liberal media bias) or in major papers?
Alas, at this point, I wonder what – if anything – can be done.
I will say, however, that I agree with the Mistress of HuffPo when she argued that outlets that aspire to journalistic integrity should stop moderating uncritical discussions between opposing sides as though each point of view is equally valid.
Ultimately, I think I’m as worried as you, but I can’t help but feel that Paul Krugman’s concerns amount to journalistic/punditry NIMBYism.Report