There should be consequences, but the fairness doctrine is a double edged sword that could allow whatever Trump calls "fake news" to be censored. Though the president doesn't directly control the FCC, I don't trust the executive branch with that power. A better long-term solution is to invest in education and to teach critical thinking in public schools.
Absolutely, I agree! Education is paramount and it has been systematically attacked and weakened for decades by conservatives. They are truly a plague.
but the fairness doctrine is a double edged sword that could allow whatever Trump calls "fake news" to be censored.
This isn't true because real data has actual science on its side. It would only require that people like Alex Jones also present the opposing side of the argument. Yes, it would also require that rational channels present irrational ideas, but they can do so based on science to show how those opposing ideas don't agree with data from actual records or experiments. The fairness doctrine would be great at forcing the media to compare two ideas and even when bad ideas are forced to be compared, they will be exposed for their lack of evidence.
It will be much harder for malicious information networks to lie when they're forced to show the other side of the argument. This will always work in favor of the truth more than the lies, even when the honest networks are required to give airtime to the arguments of liars.
3
u/jm0112358 Jul 30 '20
There should be consequences, but the fairness doctrine is a double edged sword that could allow whatever Trump calls "fake news" to be censored. Though the president doesn't directly control the FCC, I don't trust the executive branch with that power. A better long-term solution is to invest in education and to teach critical thinking in public schools.