The answer to this is complex, but I think what has happened over the past 30-40 years is that our political class, our corporate owner class, and our media class have all become increasingly indistinguishable. So, the CEO of Glopcorp. moves into government and becomes Secretary of Regulating Glopcorp's Industry, then moves on to lobby for Glopcorp and/or appears on Glopcorp News Channel as a pundit. This group, wanting to stay in the positions of power and privilege that they hold, conspire to distract the American public with 'culture wars', while they continue to work their will. . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What%27s_the_Matter_with_Kansas%3F

Because too many of us simply don't care. As long as our gal/guy gets elected, who cares how? It continues because objectivity/truth is worthless to our electorate..they applaud the mudslinging..embrace the clever innuendos..celebrate the spin. It's their lifeblood..just don't get in the way of having their gal/guy get elected..there'll be he** to pay..objectivity/honesty? That gets in the way of our objective..so we eliminate it..so our head doesn't have to hurt so much. :(

Ignorance is bliss, and it seems that more people are intrested in what Brad and angelina are doing than with our economy... I dont know why, but its sad!!

I'm not being facetious when I say that I'm not sure if the public knows what true objectivity is. And I think that they've become so cynical as to beleive that there are no truths, just better interpretations of events. Old School got this right. (Hi, mistje) Corporations have become more powerful than governments and the US is one of those governments that have bent to the corporate will. We no longer have a government of the people, by the people and for the people, it's all about the needs and desires of the corporation. In the last 30 years, the 4th Estate has also come under their control. This is extremely important when commandeering a country's treasury and military. They certainly don't want the citizens to notice. This entity knows precisely how many straws to load on the camel's back. They know from experience that if they don't dig too deep into the wallet, don't initiate a military draft, and if they replace news with entertainment, critical thinking with relaxing leaps of faith (after years of poor education), then create or enhance a common, disembodied, inhumane enemy, the citizens will sit blissfully ignorant and delightfully entertained while their treasury and freedoms are taken out the back door. "Find out just what the people will submit to, and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue until they resist with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." -- Frederick Douglas (1857) Clips 1 & 2 are by film maker Robert Greenwald of Brave New Films, it's not just FOX anymore. Clip 3 is FOX commentator Bill O'Reilly asks a fair and balanced, highly intelligent question. Clip 4 demonstrates how insidious corporate control can be, and a good reason for an independent 4th Estate, if only for our children.