In the public interest ?

In the public interest ? (Full Version)

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Aneirin -> In the public interest ? (10/31/2008 6:19:22 AM)
'' Not in the public interest '' what exactly does that mean ? We hear it so often , the media, government etc, but what is it and who decides what is in the public interest and why ? Could it be that what we are being told is a politicised view of events that saves the face of those we have invested governance to, if that is so, what have they to hide and why ?

candystripper -> RE: In the public interest ? (10/31/2008 6:31:22 AM)
Sometimes the phrase 'the public interest' makes some sense. In the US, as I'm sure is true of GB, the milk industry must conform to certain sanitary practices to sell their product. Such legislation and its enforcement is generally seen as advancing the 'public interest'; i.e., that the government should do for us what we, as individuals, cannot do for ourselves by assuring we do not consume contaminated milk. When the phrase is used to conceal facts from public view, it's a a bit harder to get people to agree. I watched a show on the History Channel about the assaination of JFK and was a bit shocked to hear some documents on the subject are still withheld from public exmination as a matter of 'natinal security'. WTF? By now, most everyone involved must be dead...how is it a matter of public interest to withhold the data now? The CIA, NSA, Homeland Security..etc....all creep me out. "Secrecy is the freedom tyrants dream of." Bill Moyers. candystripper [sm=pole.gif]

pahunkboy -> RE: In the public interest ? (10/31/2008 6:40:16 AM)
An, after careful thought, I have decided that I do not want the government to fix any more problems. These people whining about Obamas tax plan- should have selected Ron Paul, who would abolish the IRS! So I dont want to hear it. And who the fuck was the nut that phoned me last night? a meak womans voice, "I hope you do not vote for the black one for president". who cares if he is black! he gonna car-jack yo taxes!!! Yup, the GOP could have had RON PAUL. The one man that could have fixed our mess. But now we are stuck with the most liberal (gag) dem to ever run! (again gag) Oh how we will morn to have bush return to rule us. The war on terror IS the great wall of china, the wall rome had. we have walled out ideas. ideas make the world. RIP, USA. we are about to get, EXACTLY what, we, deserve! (door slams)

UncleNasty -> RE: In the public interest ? (10/31/2008 6:45:54 AM)
Rarely, in this modern age of electronics and information, are we being told the truth, or the facts, or the whole story by the MSM. Sound bites, spin, half truths, and sometimes outright lies. The amount of non-news that we believe really is news is amazing. By non-news I mean press releases and video news releases that are put together by Public Relations firms, given to our media and then passed on to the unknowing public as "hard journalism." The internet has made things better and worse. True there are lots more sources of information. But information and wisdom are two different things. You don't really find wisdom on the net as wisdom is something developed and earned. Without digging, or in some cases just scratching beneath the surface, it is unlikely that one encounters enough fact or truth to make informed decisions. Is there a "public interest?" You betcha. Do I trust those who so frequently bandy the term about? Rarely. I have a comic on my fridge, a Ziggy. He is watching TV. The caption reads "This program is being brought to you by a corporation with a hidden agenda." Pity, but I see a lot of truth in that. Uncle Nasty

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