There's been a lot of discussion on this blog about how the news media is too focused on trivial stories. Instead of focusing on whether or not John McCain had an inappropriate relationship eight years ago, for instance, why not really examine his claim that the surge in Iraq is working? But, really guys, whose fault is this? Detailed information on policy issues is readily available, but we don't go looking for it because all we really want is to be entertained.
Is this true? Are we in fact, as Al Gore has suggested, in danger of becoming "well-amused citizens" rather than well-informed citizens? Have we all happily embraced the values of an entertainment culture? And, if so, what should we do about it?
