Frustration with Facts

I have recently found myself more and more interested in the politics that seem to be consuming every media outlet. As a recent college graduate, I should be educated on politics, and how it affects me. However, as a dependent of my parents until just a few short months ago, the issues at hand seemed alien to me, and with that being said, I was pretty much oblivious to the major workings of our political system.

Being thrown into the real world, I have found that the “hot topics” of our society are no longer non-applicable to my life and are, in fact, weighing heavily on my day-to-day decisions. The current national healthcare situation is pertinent to my personal current lack-of-healthcare dilemma, and the economy is keeping me from being in a job that is even remotely related to my field of study. Among other issues like the current war in Afghanistan and Iraq, which affect my boyfriend more than me, I am very frustrated with my lack of ability to find FACTS. I am surly able to locate all kinds of media opinions of the issues. However, being the young adult that I am, I would much rather get the basic facts, and form my own opinions. After all, that is why I went to college, right?

Just this weekend, I found myself intently listening to a radio discussion about the oversaturation of media in our society. The discussion focused on how it is up to the American listeners to sort through the garbage and get the information. However, when media was originated, wasn’t it supposed to provide the public with facts about current happenings? Of course, I love to listen to what media sources have to say, it gives me a chance to think like the devil’s advocate. However a lot of the time, I would really like to AT LEAST have a chance to form my own opinion based only on the facts, and not what someone else has to say about it.

The ACORN scandal is the perfect example. I heard about the issue, and listened to countless discussions about it. I went on to speak with my mom about it, only to learn the discussions I heard on CNN were completely opposite to what she heard on Fox News. So, which news outlet is providing accurate details of the event?

Furthermore, the issues involving the war and our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan frustrate me to no end! I am very guilty of being uneducated about the war. Matt just finished a tour in Iraq, and I still find myself a bit in the dark about what exactly is going on. At least I admit I am ignorant of the facts. Just last week, Matt was in the grocery store. There was a headline about Afghanistan, and someone pointed out to him that it’s really bad over there. Matt didn’t hesitate to tell him that it was much worse in 2006. Upon Matt’s response, the person promptly informed Matt that “US didn’t have troops in Afghanistan in 2006.” That’s interesting, considering Matt was there in 2006…

This truly illustrates that lack of knowledge that is in our society. With the overwhelming amount of media available, it’s amazing how much of it is really trash and a waste. Wouldn’t it be nice just to have a place to go and actually learn what is going on? I’m not bashing those who are in media jobs, I myself would like to be in one. I’m just annoyed that I have trouble sorting fact from fiction in an area where that should never need to be done.