News

I've described myself as news-averse. I figure if it's important enough, I'll hear about it.

In addition, I've developed an advanced skepticism regarding most news sources. Due, perhaps, to my education, I find that consuming what are generally considered to be authoritative sources - CNN, say, or a major newspaper - feels, to me, like watching a campaign ad on television.

Except, of course, that you have a pretty clear idea of the agenda that drives the campaign ad, while the motivations behind news stories are not always clear. I suppose most people would concede that any given journalist or publication has a tendency to favor certain points of view, but it feels like more than that to me.

As a result, I do not feel that paying attention to the news actually keeps me in touch with what's going on in the world. Rather, I feel like it shows me what things powerful economic interests want the public to see as important.

I guess this, coupled with living outside of the United States for (nearly) my entire adult life, keeps me a bit detatched from things. I vote in presidential elections, but definitely view the politics of my government--when at all--from a bemused distance.

I'm sure that the "what difference can one person make" feeling contributes to this as well but, for better or for worse, I am not someone who agonizes over the things that I feel unable to change. What does that make me, an apathetic conspiracy theorist?

I'm not sure that I have a point here, and maybe I don't need one. I actually started out trying to introduce this article, which I just read. It's a very long, extensively researched article citing dozens of sources, published--online at least--by Rolling Stone magazine, of all things. It appears to have been posted/published just today.

I wonder if it will get wider attention.

I wonder if there is any straw, anywhere, that can break this camel's back.