tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013768528807903362.post402270534747129993..comments2023-05-04T08:38:45.160-07:00Comments on Gridlock: Can Our System Address America’s Big Problems?: karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11242198015369699322noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013768528807903362.post-5344114989201139452012-04-16T08:43:34.886-07:002012-04-16T08:43:34.886-07:00I think Walker's comment is spot on. News show...I think Walker's comment is spot on. News shows that report on scandals and the drama between members of Congress draw higher ratings than those that report on the nuances and policy implications of budgets. Still, I find it rather impossible for the public to shed their demand to see political blood by themselves. Perhaps the onus should be on the journalists, who adhere to an unwritten code of ethics as the "4th Estate," to inform public curiosity on substantive policy issues by reporting on them. Still, in this era of intense competition for viewers, it's easy to see how the news media behaves as they do.Michael Nacleriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08676462227419191465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013768528807903362.post-86044908981499344702012-04-15T10:32:47.144-07:002012-04-15T10:32:47.144-07:00I think the blame for why comments such as West...I think the blame for why comments such as West's have become so common falls on the public. There will always be people who are willing to say anything in order to gain publicity so putting the blame on West wouldn't help us find a solution to the problem. The public encourages this type discourse in two ways: 1) by electing members to Congress who say things like Allen West said and 2) being more engaged by news with this type of discourse rather news will productive discourse. The public needs to want more productive discourse for there to be more productive discourse.Walker Schiffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15060527883863716634noreply@blogger.com