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| Joe Bakewell. |
MICRO ISSUES.
Recently,
I had occasion to access a web site I’d not heard of before, the intellectual
dark web. It purports to present rounded views on all manner of issues, and
this seemed to be the case. What amazed me was the selection of ‘issues’. The
commentators, mostly bloggers seeking to build a following, take up causes that
are off the beaten track and not generally problems that most would recognize
as urgent when compared to racism, the suppression of women, sexual harassment,
and the gross cost of health care. And that’s the point; these big issues are
already spoken for with large numbers of people seeking a fix.
The
micro issue commentators seek to become big fish in smaller ponds. They’re
particularly active on college campuses. In all, there may be as many of them,
including their followers, as there are involved with the big issues. They dig
down into the bowels of society until they find a heretofore unexploited
problem. The ‘victims’ agree, who knows what they might gain?
The
problems may be real; so what’s the problem? Distraction. Just look at our
national discourse today. Our country's most serious problems are not
mentioned; they’re kept off stage. The public is already choking on the red
meat dished out by our politicians and our ‘oh so professional’ media. And it
seems to be having the desired effect.
But
won’t the public be pissed when they get the bill?
Joe
Bakewell.
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