So, AXIOS, this alleged paragon of purported “neutral” reporting, publishes an article on the GOP Freedom Caucus’ position on raising the debt ceiling which position, in short, amounts to insistence that SPENDING be reduced. The headline of the article is “Freedom Caucus draws battle lines on debt ceiling”. It can be found here.
First, the attempt, which seems to be the hallmark of ALL so-called journalism, to turn a meaningful and needful conversation into a battle, the better to turn the article into an invitation to rubber-neck (remember, “if it bleeds it leads”).
Second, the author simply MUST characterize the Freedom Caucus as “The Right-Wing House Freedom Caucus”. Would he ever refer to Chuck Schumer as the “Left-Wing Senate Minority Leader?” His implication is clear. Right = bad. Left = normal.
Third, and this is the statement that almost made me spit out my coffee. In the section entitled, “Why it Matters” the author writes the most stupid explanation I think I’ve ever heard, and while I have an undergraduate degree in economics, it doesn’t take any formal training in the field to see how incredibly idiotic it is. He says, and I quote,
“Their [the Freedom Caucus‘] votes on the debt ceiling could mean the difference between the U.S. continuing to be able to borrow money to pay off its debts and a potentially catastrophic default.”
Yes, you read that right. The United States must borrow more money to pay off the money it owes.
That’s like obtaining a credit card and taking a cash advance to make the payments on another credit card that’s already max’d out.
What could go wrong?
And THIS is what passes for journalism. This is what the dimwits in Washington feed on. This is how dumbed-down and completely ignorant of basic sense the media/reporting has become.
This is the result of giving a voice to a whole generation of poorly educated, easily duped and fundamentally dysfunctional and child-like Millennial through Gen Z so-called ‘reporters’.
Sigh…