I saw this report under the heading, “Watching Fox News makes you dumber,” but the study being reported also mentions NPR and MSNBC. The actual headline on the University of Maryland project reads this way: “Voters Say Election Full of Misleading and False Information.” Among the findings: Those who watched Fox News almost daily were significantly more likely than those who never watched it to believe:
91 percent believe the stimulus legislation lost jobs
72 percent believe the economy is getting worse
60 percent believe climate change is not occurring
49 percent believe income taxes have gone up
63 percent believe the stimulus legislation did not include any tax cuts
56 percent believe Obama initiated the GM/Chrysler bailout
38 percent believe that most Republicans opposed TARP
63 percent believe Obama was not born in the U.S. (or that it is unclear)
On the other side, NPR and PBS people were more likely to believe that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s foreign money helped fund GOP candidates.
I say don’t believe everything you read from academia. Would you argue that most institutions of higher learning are ardently progressive in their ideology?
Wonder of wonders: On FauxNoise today, a reporter/commentator said that gas prices have risen in the last couple of weeks. The television anchor asked what was behind that move. The reporter said, “Anytime the economy improves, gas prices go up”. The anchor responded, “You’re saying the economy has improved and that’s why gas prices have gone up”.
“Yep”. And then he went on to explain that when the economy is better, people have more money to go on vacations, etc but if they have no money, less gas is used”.
Well, you coulda’ knocked me off my feet. FN ACTUALLY said the economy is improving. And now I’m wondering if Rush is clamoring to spread the good news.
Nah! I’ll bet not.
For the record, I’m not in the camp that says the recent tax rate extension is going to lower unemployment. Those rates are have already been in play. However, those rates have created or saved at least 100 million jobs over the last 10 years.
You need to provide some good sources for the 100 million jobs statement. I’ve seen data showing job loss during the Bush tax cut era. Too busy to find a source for that now, but ask Mr. Google.
Don’t wast your time on it. Just using the vernacular of the past two years. You can’t substantiate a saved job so it doesn’t really matter what figure you used. 1000, 10 million, 100 million, it’s all irrelevant.
Are you saying your 100 million jobs comment is bunk?
Yes – It is made up. My point is to the first quote on the story you cited. 91% believe the stimulus lost jobs. The purpose of the quote was to imply that the stimulus created jobs. I’m just saying anyone that uses the phrase “created or saved jobs” is making a worthless statement. You can’t prove “saved jobs.” If that is accepted venacular then I feel free to throw out my own worthless numbers.
Sorry for the confusion. My point was evidently not as obvious as I had hoped.
I don’t know if this rather lengthy read from Forbes.com will “settle” the matter but even though it’s a year old, I thought it a rather interesting explication of the stimulus.
naturally, I neglected to include the link:
http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/03/tax-cuts-stimulus-jobs-opinions-columnists-bruce-bartlett.html
PROGRESSIVE AND NOT SERIOUS: The Fox News’ senior vice president for news editorial Michael Clemente was asked about Fox creating greater misinformation among viewers. He didn’t mention that universities are too progressive, like Contrarian, but he said the University of Maryland is merely a “party school.”