except

Glenn Greenwald, June 22nd. Same as it ever was, I guess, I just believe far less and less and less that there are any governments out there really keen on representing and presenting that which is fair and sound. At least there are very few governments out there which are in power, and which keep other governments in power, which are interested in this. Very few governments which want their people to know even a skerrick of the truth. I think our freedom and democracy, as seen by the huge focus and spin Michael Jackson's death will be getting for some time yet, is all about bread and circuses. The majority of reporters and news services are absolutely complicit in this. If it keeps us entertained, why not, I guess. It's just when our entertainment comes at the expense of other people's lives and livelihoods.

Glenn Greenwald is always worth reading.

These blatantly contradictory statements [from media pundits] aren't considered contradictions because of the core premises of our political culture: We don't really consider torture and mass pointless slaughter -- when we do it -- to be all that bad. Those who advocated, defended and ordered it are still highly respectable -- "honorable." Those who were so humiliatingly wrong that it cannot be adequately expressed in words still prance around, and are still treated as, wise experts, while those were right are naive and unserious. The U.S stands for freedom, democracy and human rights -- even when we don't. People who advocate unprovoked wars of aggression, torture and mass violence are irredeemable monsters --except when they're American or our allies.