Comments on: United States of America http://www.ditdotdat.org/bigcity/2006/11/united-states-of-america/ Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:19:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Jon http://www.ditdotdat.org/bigcity/2006/11/united-states-of-america/comment-page-1/#comment-207 Jon Sat, 16 Dec 2006 14:17:13 +0000 http://www.ditdotdat.org/bigcity/2006/11/united-states-of-america/#comment-207 I know a lot of people in the US believe this. When I read things like this list of execution methods used in the US I can't help feeling that the dark ages left the Old World on the Mayflower and are still thriving over there. Lethal injection: Authorised in 37 states Electrocution: In 10 states (sole method in Nebraska) Gas chamber: In five states (all of which have lethal injection as alternative) Hanging: Only in New Hampshire and Washington Firing squad: In Idaho and Oklahoma Do you know how many European countries use the death penalty? None. The US media might seems free, it isn't. In my opinion Al Jazeera is currently the benchmark for the most dramatically independent news source in the world. How many Americans would consider its coverage comparable with any mainstream US media? I think most people would consider it a very marginal news source. But every independent analysis of bias in the media has shown Al Jazeera to be more impartial than any US news channel. People in the US think they are getting impartial news because they think the news they get is impartial and so any news that doesn't look like their news must be biased. It's a circular argument. I know a lot of people in the US believe this. When I read things like this list of execution methods used in the US I can’t help feeling that the dark ages left the Old World on the Mayflower and are still thriving over there.

Lethal injection: Authorised in 37 states
Electrocution: In 10 states (sole method in Nebraska)
Gas chamber: In five states (all of which have lethal injection as alternative)
Hanging: Only in New Hampshire and Washington
Firing squad: In Idaho and Oklahoma

Do you know how many European countries use the death penalty? None.

The US media might seems free, it isn’t. In my opinion Al Jazeera is currently the benchmark for the most dramatically independent news source in the world. How many Americans would consider its coverage comparable with any mainstream US media? I think most people would consider it a very marginal news source. But every independent analysis of bias in the media has shown Al Jazeera to be more impartial than any US news channel. People in the US think they are getting impartial news because they think the news they get is impartial and so any news that doesn’t look like their news must be biased. It’s a circular argument.

]]> By: Toby http://www.ditdotdat.org/bigcity/2006/11/united-states-of-america/comment-page-1/#comment-202 Toby Fri, 15 Dec 2006 22:44:06 +0000 http://www.ditdotdat.org/bigcity/2006/11/united-states-of-america/#comment-202 Jon, you really shouldn't feel so sorry for us. We are running away with the world leaving the rest of the old Empire behind in the dark ages. Americans are fat, complacent, and generally lazy, spending most of their off-time on a couch watching reality shows because their own lives are so pathetically boring and sad. But they are generally pretty well off. You should check your facts first as strikes, public comment and national news are as vibrant -or not- as the old Empire. I suspect your news is as sensored as here (we have Pacifica Radio for the alternative)but anyone who wants to really see what is going on in the world reads Google News. Hey, Andrea and I are thinking of visiting this winter. I know it's a lousy time but she is pregnant again and we want to travel before she resembles more Americans. We would love to visit you and Carol and the rest. It isn't certain yet but there is an outside chance. Hope your Christmas goes well and you find the right curling iron. Love, TOBY Jon, you really shouldn’t feel so sorry for us. We are running away with the world leaving the rest of the old Empire behind in the dark ages. Americans are fat, complacent, and generally lazy, spending most of their off-time on a couch watching reality shows because their own lives are so pathetically boring and sad. But they are generally pretty well off. You should check your facts first as strikes, public comment and national news are as vibrant -or not- as the old Empire. I suspect your news is as sensored as here (we have Pacifica Radio for the alternative)but anyone who wants to really see what is going on in the world reads Google News.

Hey, Andrea and I are thinking of visiting this winter. I know it’s a lousy time but she is pregnant again and we want to travel before she resembles more Americans. We would love to visit you and Carol and the rest. It isn’t certain yet but there is an outside chance. Hope your Christmas goes well and you find the right curling iron.
Love, TOBY

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