Posted on January 30, 2026 by jamesq

This applies to all of us in the great unwashed – not so much the country’s leaders. Among the general population, the right and left have a great deal in common. Start with ignorance. Reading is a waning activity.

86% of Americans now get their news digitally, with only 7% relying on print newspapers.

Over 50% of adults get news from social platforms like Facebook or YouTube, where the “reading” involved is often limited to headlines or short captions rather than full articles. The proportion of U.S. adults who read for pleasure daily dropped by 40% between 2003 and 2023. Engagement fell from roughly 28% of the population in 2004 to just 16% in 2023.

Any information most have access to is superficial and obtained from headlines, click bait, and reading a few sentences from an article. Getting a citizen’s attention is accomplished in much the same way as a matador waving a red flag in front of a bull. The bull follows the red flag and is eventually stabbed with a sword.

Americans have headlines or click bait flashed in front of their eyes, so that they are drawn into an agenda to follow. More danger comes from the citizens espousing the agenda…. than comes from any misinformation Americans are ostensibly protected from seeing. Congress hordes information and keeps constituents from viewing it. This prevents constituents from getting in the way of any lawmaker’s personal agenda. Hardly a soul knows what is going on in the world. Most only know what those in control want the public to know. Constituent’s opinions are shaped by what the powerful few want them to know. Personal interactions are kept to a minimum. There are no public forums. It is OK , to follow pundits who are easily managed out of fear they will be thrown off of whatever platform they are on.

More misinformation is spread from those in control than any misinformation spread by the public.

Neither side can accomplish a thing without freedom of speech. Some concern about freedom of speech is emerging. Social commentary is showing up, Bruce Springsteen, for example.

Americans are kept from experiencing stress. Now stress is unavoidable. In – depth thinking and reasoning increase when stress levels increase. Perhaps in a short time, the masses will begin appreciating the first amendment. The left and right are both being stifled. Any chance both sides can figure that and silently agree to fight a common threat and work out their differences after the public has a voice again ?