I hitched my journalistic future to digital new media thinking it the greatest information tool ever seen.  In the midst of the ongoing U.S. presidential election, I’m starting to also see it as the greatest enemy to information.  This is why I’m remembering the famous Pogo line, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

Economist and columnist Paul Krugman correctly noted that John McCain’s and Sarah Palin’s “Blizzard of Lies” are “assertions that anyone with an Internet connection can disprove in a minute.”  In Palin’s interviews on CBS’ and ABC’s nightly newscasts, the little-known governor of Alaska not at all surprisingly revealed herself as frighteningly unqualified to be vice president, willing to risk war with Russia, and not having a clue as to what this country’s foreign policy has been.  In recent polls, more than half of registered voters do not think Palin is prepared for the job of Vice President, and even McCain supporters cite “inexperience” as what they like least about her.

Let’s stop it right there.  More than … half?   Even though current polling is suspect due to inability to reach the growing millions who use only mobile phones – no wired phone in the home – I still find that result astounding, as it suggests something fairly close to half the electorate believes Palin is qualified. 

While, thankfully, Palin’s acceptance number continues to drop with each TV interview, David Swanson’s recent OpEd News article suggested why so many voters are uninformed.  “What differences do exist between the policy positions of American candidates are rarely reported in the media. Far more media coverage goes to TV ads, polling, financial reports, and personality nonsense,” wrote Swanson. “Voters pay attention to that crap because it’s the only thing they’re shown, unless they really seek out the rare reporting of substance on the internet or radio.”

As much as I agree with Swanson, I’d be unfair not to admit the media has done an atypically fair job revealing Palin’s many deceptions and lack of qualifications.  This suggests, simply, that far too many voters aren’t paying attention. Our digital information age is pitted against its alter ego, the digital entertainment age.  And the latter is winning handsomely.  With hundreds of digital TV channels, digital on-demand viewing, TIVO, and video game entertainment, how many people are paying attention to current affairs?

Last week, I confessed my dismay to an old friend who responded, “It just boggles the mind that people are either so stupid or so lackluster in pursuit of information.” She then offered a stunning tale from a friend of hers who works for a major budget price national retail chain.  Her friend related how “the women workers there didn’t know anything about political issues, but were ready and more than willing to vote for McCain/Palin.  These same women had no intention of listening to the debates or any other form of information.”

Bill Bartman is a freelance correspondent and investigative reporter for print, broadcast, and new media.  He is also a consultant to digital new media and related telecommunications and information technology ventures.

Article Tags: John McCain | Paul Krugman | Pogo | Sarah Palin

Filed under: Election, News article, Propaganda, TV, Technology