I definitely think that the bad things that are happening out there are reality ... but I also believe that 24x7 news coverage perpetuates the problems.

Back when I was a kid, the news we got was definitely filtered, to the extent that it often didn't seem real. Nowdays, there seems to be no filters at all and the result (to me) is **too much**

One of our local news stations goes overboard in how they report ... the entire team, no matter which newscast you listen to ... puts drastic emphasis on words that they want to stand out (kind of like the headlines in the Enquirer types of papers). (and NOW we'll tell you about the UNBELIEVABLE evening that John Doe SAYS he experienced last night)

I also wish they'd spend as much effort in reporting the positive things that are happening, the people who go out of their way to help others. I personally believe there's as much of that in the world but we're not hearing about it because it's not as sensational.

I sometimes which I could just sell my posessions and move to a small home on a lake. I know that there is noplace that is exempt from all the world's troubles but I live near DC and everything seems to be worse here. The crime is unbelievable as well as the cost of living and unemployment. There are so many people really suffering here. I count my blessings each day that I have a job and a home and a bit of a nest egg just in case. I think I once heard about a "good news" radio or tv station- - anyone know about it? Have a good day. Satine

I'm not over concerned about the economy. We live frugally, and--I believe--are intelligent and creative enough to get along no matter what happens there.

The thing that upsets me on an almost daily basis is the news of the crime in the city we live near. It's been judged the most crime-ridden city in America a number of times over the years. It's a dangerous place full of drugs, violence, mental and physical illness. Desparate people from this city frequently run out to the suburbs to commit crimes of all sorts (theft, breaking and entering, carjacking, rape, robbery, etc). We live only 2 miles from this cesspool. Even worse, my almost-60-year old husband has to work in the city at least 2 weeks out of every month. He's a bill collector and has to deal with the most desparate people of all--asking them for money they don't have, and taking away something they see as a 'right' if they don't pay him. I worry every day that this will be the day that I get a phone call from one of his bosses that he's been attacked, hurt, robbed, or killed doing his job. Other collectors have been shot at, or attacked on the street because it's known that they carry money with them.

I'm so proud of what he does--he's out there protecting every customer who believes in paying their electric/gas bill in a timely manner. But it's a dangerous job and a very dangerous location to do it. And hearing about all the drive-bys, rapes, drug deals, etc, etc, etc on the news doesn't help me let go of the worry I have when he walks out the door in the morning.

I personally do not think that things are as bad as we are led to believe. If we voted out all our representatives and started over with honest, middle-class people representing us, I think we would truly find out what a great nation this is.

It's very easy for the rich congressmen to sit in their ivory towers; overtax the middle class (while they find all the loopholes); and try to control the lives of the citizens. We need middle-class people who are graduates of the "School of Hard Knocks", who know that the vast majority of people can, and will, take care of themselves if the need arises. Welfare perpetuates itself, and the vast majority of lawsuits are ridiculous. They are ruining this country. Not to mention illegal immigrants, who are draining our limited resources, because our representatives are more concerned about votes than the welfare of the country.

We need to educate people on such things as financial management, and hold them accountable for their own actions so they are better able to deal with day-to-day life.

An example: the mortgage crisis. I would bet that in 95% of the cases, either the homeowner chose to overextend himself (or did not educate himself on the terms), or the lender loaned money to someone who was not credit-worthy. In these cases, the homeowner can save himself by: a) selling (and learning a costly lesson); b) taking in boarders to help cover the cost; c) getting a second and third job; or d) learning how to cut expenses to the bare bone. And as punishment for its incompetence, the lending institution should be forced to work out a reasonable payment strategy with the homeowner.

I may sound heartless, but I learned these lessons the hard way. When my first husband died, and I had to support my infant son, I took in roommates to help cover the rent...and I worked a full-time and part-time job. I learned financial management in a hurry, without ever taking a dime of welfare. It was brutal, but a valuable lesson.

Where there's a will, there's a way....and when people figure that out, we will realize the true greatness of America.

Amen Wanda...you said it best!!!!

I think the economy is in worse shape than the media is leading us to believe.

I don't allow the news to scare me. What I find scary is the fact that humans are as willing as they are to hurt others or just do things to get over. It's as though honesty and consideration for others has gone straight out the window.

The news/media is here to do their job and they do it. Is it overkill? Perhaps. To me, the 24/7 news coverage is another aspect of the lack of consideration people have for one another. It's like perpetually in your face - here you need to know this NOW! Here - you need to start doing this NOW! Sheesh. Give it a rest, will you?

(Sorry if I've offended anyone here who works in the media, that was not my intent.)

Satine, I feel like you do. I'd like to run away to the farthest corner of the world and just live a simple life.

Besides the economy and war, the global warming is frighteneing. This morning the news reports we may have no ice at the North Pole this summer. I don't thing scientists even begin to understand the ramifications of the changes in our climate. I don't worry for myself; I've had my life. I worry for my kids and their kids.

In a nutshell, yes. But I am not scared for myself oddly enough. I am scared for those that don't seem to be able to care for themselves. While times are tough in our house, we have learned that we can do without a whole lot of "stuff". Our salaries are less than half of what we made in California, yet we are happy! We don't feel like anything is missing. We even have two vehicles again and the pinch is not what I thought it would be.

I worry about my kids. What will life be like for them?

Trish

I don't listen to the news on tv...Too time-consuming...but I check CNN and Google News often.
Won't delve much into religion, but after reading some 'stories' can't help thinking of when I was a wee child, and my Mother reading bible verses to me...what will occur before the-end-of-time.
I've heard remarks even from young women, that they worry about their babies future...and yet, babies are born every second...No, you can't stop living, or stand still, wait for something that may or may not happen in the near future...I guess as we get older, we worry more, because I know 30 years ago, my answer to this question would of been different. But if we dwell on the news...Scarey? It sure is.

It's reality, janemarie. Whether or not you and I are monitoring the news, the powers-that-be know what's going on. I don't think the kid who knocks off a pizza delivery man for twenty bucks ever watches the news or reads a paper.

As for 24/7 news programs, that's why those networks were founded. In the old days, we read the newspapers in several editions in order to stay informed every day. I think the news stories in the papers are still much more detailed than what passes for news on TV these days. Unfortunately, fewer and fewer people are reading these days - info comes from TV and internet, in small doses, constantly.

I think the way to treat 24/7 cable news is to treat it like you would a newspaper. Watch the hard news once, as you would read a paper, then check back now and then for the "latest edition." TV news is in your face because they want to catch viewers, so instead of hard news reporters they have pretty faces who read the same bits over and over. I'm sorry this has happened to news, because it is important to have a well-informed public, not just celebrity-driven "news."

As for the economy, I agree that it is very bad. But the media reports what the monitoring agencies report in cold hard statistics. Have you been listening to Bush? As far as he's concerned, things are almost peachy. He seldom mentions it at all.

I'm very worried about the future. It's going to be a very long hard way back to prosperity for this country.

I personally think that the media is one of the major problems facing our society today. There are no consequences for the irresponsible stories they run day after day after day. So many times in recent memory I have seen a well known news person have to recant or corrrect a major error they or their station made in reporting. However, the correction usually gets 10 seconds, if that, while the incorrect sensationalized
story received huge air time or print space. I liken the anchor people and reporters to Henny Penny running around yelling "the sky is falling! the sky is falling!" Is the sky really falling or do they just need to sell more papers, ad time, and grow viewership? I tend to think the latter.

Couple of thoughts. We do not get too much of bad stuff on our local stations. Very soon will be the state fair that will be most of the news, or if there are basketball playoffs etc.
Also it really bothers me when someone goes in kills his boss/friend/ or even strangers just because they either got fired, or got laid off. Or kids will kill each other if they get angry instead of good old fashion fist fights etc. Or if a couple breaks up, get mad cry or whatever, but go on. Don't threaten, stalk etc.
What I am trying to say--people must assume responsibilty for their own mistakes-Do no blame it on others.

I have stopped listening to the news...political and world news. I find it depressing and scary. I will keep my head in the sand and let DH tell me what I need to know, he watches it all the time. Too many killings, suicides, rapes, child abductions or abuse. I get tired of it...I can't hear anymore. It makes me sick. The news is not news worthy to me anymore. I can't watch one more fire burn for 2-3 days or watch a high speed chase for hours. I'm done! I've been using that time to read a book....

I read the newspaper daily, I watch the nightly news; local and national. My youngest son, Jonathan is serving in the US Army right now. He has gone through basic training at Ft Jackson in South Carolina. Reported to Restone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama for his AIT and
then to Ft Benning, Georgia for his Airbourne Training. He should have graduated today...unfortunately; he broke his foot on his third jump. We are in limbo right now.

So, reading and watching the news is an important thing. I am afraid for what is going on in the middle east and Korea not only for my son and the other soldiers, but us AMERICANS as a whole.

I pray every day that November's election results will be the beginning of a new dawn for all of us.

The recession has affected my personal life as it has everyones. Just look at the price of groceries, clothing and GASOLINE. It sickens me when I see people struggling to feed, clothe and house their families....we live in the
richest nation in the world, yet we have the biggest deficit in the history of our country going on right now.

I will not stand on a soap box declaring my views, but we do need CHANGE and hopefully.....it happens in November.

I have had close relationships with TV and news operations for a long time. It's nice to have the good news up there with the bad. Fact is, hardly anyone wants to see good news. A simple, but proven mantra in news is if it bleeds, it leads..." Any doubt? Watch how traffic slows down when there's a bloody accident.

My biggest peeve is the slanting of news. I don't watch the national news often, but I listen to the highlights on the radio, check headlines from various sources on the web and generally watch a weekly roundup on PBS which I think gives the most unbiased reporting.

I've been involved for years in local politics. This is still the grass roots. But most people couldn't even name their council members. Why? They don't want to know and they don't want to get involved. They just don't care. Not until something strikes them personally.

News doesn't scare me. I believe that knowledge is power. Apathy, ignorance and naivety scare me though. People that buy into the political hype. There's so many things that have happened and I won't name them since if I did someone would go crying and I'd get a friendly reminder but let's just say that numerous things have proven to have been lies. Simple lies over the past unnamed number of years and people simply ignore it. I can't believe it. And then I see my godson die overseas, and a friend's son shortly thereafter and the lies continue. I think I can find better reasons for them to forfeit their lives than lies.

The hype for ratings continues whether in business, broadcast or politics. Because ratings=money.

I'm truly saddened seeing the small businesses suffer in our economy. The small farmer can't make it. A former SOA's motto was "get big or get out". The small business owner puts in endless hours and sacrifices everything but we're so cheap that we'll see if the big box will sell it for the same price so we can kill off the small businesses and of course the small businesses are what built this country.

I agree that banks need to be held responsible. But then we have to realize that it will cost us all since it's our money in those banks. Did the big shots lose out on the Enron scandal? Or others? No. Stockholders did and banks are some of the stockholders so here we go again.

I'm also concerned seeing our kids being raised by daycare and the school system. I'm concerned seeing kids that come out of school and can't read or write all the while the districts scream for more money for salaries. Do your job and you'll deserve more. (That should offend a number of people!)

I'm concerned that people have to keep up with the Jones' instead of living within their means.

Problems? Yep, we've got plenty. But who's willing to take even some steps to resolve them? That's what's really scary.

Have you noticed how long the primaries have gone on?

And how much they cost?

Who do you think pays all of those multiplied millions?

And you're just now starting on the race between the guys/almost gal that the parties are choosing as their standard-bearer!

How much more will that cost?

You've heard the expression, "He who pays the piper ... calls the tune"?

One of the things that frightens me is the concentration among corporations.

There are few avenues of enterprise where there are more than half a dozen entities who do most of the business - and that's more pronounced in CanAda than on your side of the border, but it's growing in your country, as well.

When 6,000 famers sell their product to about 6 agencies ... who do you think sets the price?

And when 6,000 farmers buy fuel, fertilizer, herbicides, etc. from about 6 agencies ... who do you think sets the price?

And the agencies that buy and sell to farmers are mostly worldwide (and they have long held effective control of the grain markets) ... and privately owned ... so they make a much smaller public report of their business affairs than do companies that are widely owned, i.e. on the stock market.

We've heard the old story that in the marketplace, competition keeps everything fair and square.

Here in Canada they've had about 6 government inquiries into the pricing of petroleum products, primarily gasoline ... and they've all concluded that, yes, there is, there really is, competition in the gas marketplace!

And about half a dozen people, I suppose, in this market area of about 400,000 may believe them!

Meanwhile, the price of gasoline in four gas stations on a corner changes from precisely the same cost earlier, to a new price, amazingly, exactly the same ... and all taking place at precisely midnight.

No collusion, huh?

Right!

Anyone want to buy a bridge linking Manhattan to Brooklyn?

But the corporate-dominated (and concentrated) media never seem to find it important to mention such things.

In our societies, I hear a lot about individual freedom, of political democracy, and of democrcy in the social realm.

But I almost never hear of the importance of economic democracy.

Surely economics is as important as political and social affairs?

Only a limited percentage of the populace votes...

... but everybody eats.

ole joyful

I think news sources like CNN have desensitized many to the atrocities in the world and use scare tactics and fear mongering to get viewers.

Yes there is a difficult time ahead for the world but it's time to look back and draw strength from the past history.

My parents lived through the depression. My mother on a rural impoverished farm - they made it. When we were growing up my dad was in the military. He didn't make much until the pay reform in the 1970s and they only got paid monthly. We always had roast beef at the end of the month because my Mother planned meals, saved where they could, made a lot of toys, clothing and I enjoyed some of the richest memories of my life.

For me I am working on returning to a simpler life, getting away from credit, for the first time I'm growing a huge garden of vegetables instead of just playing with a little one for fun (I live in the city). Do you remember the victory gardens in the war years? Community gardens are growing. I may not be able to grow all the produce we need for next winter but at least I'm trying to grow a little.

The news annoys me more than scares me. You have to put it into context and use your head. It's important to know the news around you but it's also important not to lose focus on living your life.

Don't let news ratings get the better of you. Use your head and think for yourself.

I'm concerned about the gas prices and everything it affects - who isn't? But that's not the news, it's reality. If I listen to the conjectures and forecasts I'd be really scared. I will take the information in it's simplest form and do what I can do, do what I am capable of doing. The rest I leave to a higher power.

So no, the news does not scare me.

Great thought provoking question. I think CNN brought this type of question home to me when the reporter in the Gulf War was reporting live from under his bed with the missiles flying overhead. Hello....get out of there idiot! CNN. 'Nuff said.

I quit watching national news.
I found it bias, and over sensationally. Remember
all the flu scares?
I focus on what's going on around me. In my home, and
in my neighborhood.

Oh sure...it's easy to blame the media. But they show what sells. It's kinda like saying celebrities have problems because of the paparazzi. In reality, people buy what these photographers sell, and they are simply making a living off of what the public wants to see.

I am a news nut and usually have at least one TV tuned to a national news program all day every day, and so do many of you. Otherwise, why are there always links posted here to breaking news stories within minutes after it hits the airwaves?

Yes, sometimes the news makes me sad or makes me worried for the future of this planet. But mostly I watch because I take an interest in what goes on in this world. Those who don't OR those who think it's hype OR those who could care less can simply use the OFF button.

:-)

I didn't read the other responses, but I wanted to comment that it scares me, so I don't turn it on anymore. With a newborn, no raise, and an expensive home that would never sell for what we owe on it...I'm scared. But, it is what it is...and we'll deal with money one day at a time. This is the first time in my 10 years of teaching that I didn't get a raise. :(