Response to the Struggle of Free Press

When reading McChesney's article and comparing his opinions to the realities I perceive in the media and government, I came to question whether the media is contributing to our society or if it is an eroding factor, contributing to the general deterioration of it. McChesney highlighted the lack of concern American society has in regards to voting and toward traditional moral values that our nation has been built on since its founding. Instead of the focus being on establishing a truly democratic society, it seems that government is solely devoted to capitalism and capitalistic ideas. Reading this essay and based on the realities that I currently live, I ask whether America society is geared at promoting democracy or if money and capital is the driving factor? Is democracy just a way to cover America's solely capitalistic and profitable ways? When commenting on the the media system in our society McChesney says, "the media system is set up to maximize profit for a handful of large companies. They system works well for them, but it is a disaster for the communication needs of a healthy and self-governing society."(11)

I agree that for a healthy and self-governing society, our media must be revamped so that it offers the most beneficial information concerning the public. In relation to our current political climate and situation, I notice the media does not really focus on the issues on the candidates, but on the candidates themselves. While this is an important aspect of choosing a leader that one must consider, policy contributes to most of what we want in a leader. We need to know what this person can do for us. We need information that will let us know whether we are choosing a leader that will have the best interest of the people in our democracy in mind, and will not have hidden agendas to expand and concentrate their business within the respective industry they are a part of. McChesney states that "the solution to the the media crisis requires widespread, informed public participation in media policy making."(12) Our media system and government system cannot and will not be positively changed until the public becomes informed on issues, and is capable and willing to participate in the creating of policies.