Saturday, June 24th 2006
Who isn’t cynical yet?
I don’t watch the Daily Show much (I prefer the Colbert Report when I have time to watch), but this study is pretty interesting:
Two political scientists found that young people who watch Stewart’s faux news program, “The Daily Show,” develop cynical views about politics and politicians that could lead them to just say no to voting…
To test for a “Daily Effect,” Baumgartner and Morris showed video clips of coverage of the 2004 presidential candidates to one group of college students and campaign coverage from “The CBS Evening News” to another group. Then they measured the students’ attitudes toward politics, President Bush and the Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.).
The results showed that the participants rated both candidates more negatively after watching Stewart’s program. Participants also expressed less trust in the electoral system and more cynical views of the news media…
Yesterday, while I was waiting for something, my friend was watching some Daily Show clips on the Comedy Central site. I was a little buzzed, but this one got to me. It’s about the Congressional Softball League and how our representatives take their partisanship to disgusting new lows. Then I realized, more than ever, that Congress is filled with 400+ people whose politics I dislike, and whose personalities I would probably dislike even more. Who are these people? Stewart gives us his take in another clip: “Seriously, the House of Representatives is filled with insane jackasses.”
I love the Daily Show and watch it whenever I can (which is to say, of course, not often) and I definitely can see why that show would make one terribly cynical. Also, in my humble opinion, the show is biased towards a favorable view of Democrats and is less favorable towards Democrats. anyway, to me, cynicism is nothing to hide behind. if you are disgusted with what you see and hear in the news, or the Daily Show, shouldnt that be *more* reason to vote?
Comment by Ben Chapman — 6/24/2006 @ 4:26 pm
*less favorable towards Republicans
Comment by Ben Chapman — 6/24/2006 @ 4:26 pm
Jon Stewart is to blame for cynical views of the government? Hah!
No, the government is to blame for cynical views of the government.
Comment by Yaman — 6/25/2006 @ 10:27 pm
There’s a site to register your support for Jon and outrage at the column in the Post.
Please visit http://www.enemyofdemocracy.com today!
Thanks
Paul
Comment by Paulpaz — 6/25/2006 @ 11:29 pm
I agree with Yaman! our elected officials have only themselves to blame for bad press.
also the Daily Show ought to be taken in the spirit in which it was created: a joke. a critical joke yes, but a joke nonetheless. and theres no doubt in my mind that the good of the US government outweighs the bad, though it is important to have the eternal vigilance of the press (and even the Daily Show) to point out our flaws so we can fix them.
thus, i love the Daily Show, and I vote.
Comment by Ben Chapman — 6/25/2006 @ 11:50 pm
For me, the good of the US government is visible primarily in its ability to correct itself or to be corrected. Otherwise, there is nothing inherently good about any government.
Ben, did you see the clip of Jon Stewart on Crossfire, before the show was cancelled? That was a rare sight!
Comment by Yaman — 6/26/2006 @ 12:09 am
Jon Stewart on Crossfire was awesome!
Comment by Ben Chapman — 6/26/2006 @ 9:15 am