OPINION
Wallowa.com
Wednesday, August 4, 2021
A5
All journalism is inherently biased
ON LIBERTY
Devin Patton
A
merica has a rich legacy of lively
public discourse, and, along with it,
a history of robust and wide-ranging
journalism. Growing from the humble roots
of early publications such as “Letters from
a Farmer” (1767), the development of tech-
nology and the 24-hour news cycle has led
to a massive shift in our culture’s expecta-
tions of, and participation in, what we col-
lectively call “the media.” Lately, we have
seen an all-out war declared on “misin-
formation,” with the federal government
leading the charge. We must remember,
however, that there is great value in open-
ing ourselves up to the challenge of enter-
taining ideas that diff er from our own.
One misconception many Americans
have is that our free press ought to be
unbiased and committed solely to report-
ing “the facts.” We argue about which
news outlets are legitimate, and then argue
about the legitimacy of the facts them-
selves, turning to benevolent “watch-
dogs” like PolitiFact, Snopes.com, and
FactCheck.org to uncover the “unbiased
truth.”
What’s worse, we see news outlets
like NPR, CNN, and the Associated Press
attempting to distinguish themselves by
claiming to be impartial and wholeheart-
edly committed to reporting the truth. The
reality is that editorial discretion and the
natural limitations placed on news outlets
preclude unbiased reporting. Not every
available story can be published and so,
inevitably, some stories will be left out —
this is called selection bias. This is also to
say nothing of the implicit biases each of
us hold as human beings; are we so naïve
to think reporters and writers are capa-
ble of transcending their own unconscious
biases? It is intellectually dishonest for
news outlets to claim they are completely
objective and neutral. We criticize insti-
tutions and media outlets that openly dis-
close their biases, but they deserve respect
for being the only ones honest enough to
disclose their partiality.
Additionally, this concept of “unbi-
ased” news reporting is a relatively mod-
ern one. American journalism arose from
a desire to distribute ideas and opin-
ions that would engage and challenge
the minds of readers, and many of these
early publications were openly biased in
their interpretation of the events of the
time. Newspapers and other politically
charged publications invigorated the colo-
nial rebellion, and many modern histori-
ans claim that without newspapers there
would have been no American Revolution
at all. The Bill of Rights speaks clearly in
defense of the sacredness of such freedom
of expression, and protection of this lib-
erty made it possible for the free press to
develop into one of America’s strongest
watchdogs over government actions and
protectors of individual rights.
Interestingly, we are now seeing the
media’s most vital function being cor-
roded. Instead of the press playing the role
of watchdog on behalf of the American
citizens, the federal government is now
acting as the gatekeeper of truth via its
use of “fact checking” and by demanding
the removal of “misinformation” from the
public discourse. We must acknowledge
that the defi nition of “misinformation” is
arbitrary, and these actions set a very con-
cerning precedent. It would be wise for
those who stand in support of the current
administration to consider how their views
would change if a conservative adminis-
tration had the option to utilize this exces-
sive power to silence opposition under the
guise of “fact checking.” We cannot sup-
port the silencing of voices, no matter how
wrong we think they are.
Aristotle said, “It is the mark of an
educated mind to be able to entertain a
thought without accepting it.” In this cul-
ture plagued by tribalism, identity pol-
itics, “echo chambers” and deep-seated
fear about discussing ideas that challenge
our own, it is worth remembering that it is
our own small minds and fragile egos that
support silencing “misinformation.” Yes,
there is objective truth, but isn’t it ironic
that in a post-modern, “post-truth” world
some of us have the audacity to claim we
know the “facts” without acknowledging
the other side of the story? We ought to
consider the value of broadening our con-
sciousness by entertaining the thoughts
of those with whom we disagree, and stop
relying on the government or the media to
provide us a perfectly curated newsfeed that
reinforces our beliefs.
———
Devin Patton is a third-generation
Wallowa County native whose pastimes
include the study of ag economics, history
and free thought.
Retirement planning is not fi nancial rocket science
LAYIN’ IT
ON THE LINE
Steve Kerby
I
s your goal managing or eliminating
risk?
The question facing most people
planning for retirement is where to invest
or deposit your funds. The stock market
has generally performed well when looking
at long-term results, but volatility can be a
dangerous part of that decision. Safe and
secure choices such as bank products may
not off er enough return. I am just like you
— I have faced these decisions with confu-
sion and with diffi culty.
I fi nally found an avenue that for me
seems to make a lot of sense. I decided to
let an insurance company hold my funds
that were designated as safe and secure,
funds that must be there at retirement time.
I bought a fi xed indexed annuity for
several reasons. The product has no mar-
ket exposure, it has a guaranteed minimum
return, it has the opportunity to gain above
the guarantees, and every year, the gain is
locked into the guarantee side. The feature
that attracted me most though was income.
At any time I can convert my funds to
income that I can not ever outlive.
If your goal is eliminating risk and pro-
viding guaranteed retirement income for
your lifetime and the life of your spouse, I
can show you how to customize a portion
of your current portfolio with strategies that
will give you the peace of mind needed to
enjoy your retirement years. Using com-
binations of income techniques off ered in
guaranteed fi nancial products that com-
plement each other, you may be able to
achieve your specifi c goal. This is not fi nan-
cial rocket science from some unproven
investment theory.
I’m talking about innovative insur-
ance companies with products that off er the
value of safety and provide versatility. Even
in the toughest times of economic downturn
faced by American and global concerns,
these types of companies have enjoyed
steady growth and stability while perpetu-
ating their fi nancial strength and covering
all contractual obligations. Their focus is
on the long-term disciplined and conserva-
tive strategy that has instilled trust and con-
fi dence in those that depend on them to do
what’s right.
This approach off ers:
• Principal protection.
• No exposure to market risk.
• Accumulation potential.
• Guaranteed retirement income.
• The potential for retirement income to
increase.
In the past 15 years, we have had two
disastrous market drops that could have
been hazardous to creating a sustainable
retirement income, wouldn’t now be the
best time to take a portion of your portfo-
lio to optimize your income plan. Consider
creating a plan to meet your needed retire-
ment income goals. You can do what I did,
I decided to trust an insurance company
and deposit my important funds in a fi xed
indexed annuity. Guaranteed funds and
guaranteed income.
My advice is to allocate a portion of your
retirement nest egg to a worry-free fi nancial
product that creates the opportunity to ben-
efi t when the markets perform well, locking
in annual gains that can’t be lost and steady
during years of decline. This certainly cre-
ates a solid foundation for your retirement
planning.
———
As an avid outdoorsman, Joseph and the
Wallowa area have been a big part of Steve
Kerby’s life since 1964. Steve is a Syndi-
cated Columnists member, a national orga-
nization committed to a fully transparent
approach to money management. With over
50 years in the fi nancial services industry,
Steve specializes and focuses on each indi-
vidual client’s goals. Visit stevekerby.retire-
village.com or call 503-936-3535 for more.
America needs a beach vacation
OTHER VIEWS
Tom Purcell
A
ugust has long been the best month
of the year to escape the daily grind
and forget our worries.
It’s been a great month to hit the beach
or take a long road trip and forget, for
just a little while, the inanities of our
increasingly angry and divided politics.
But not anymore.
The COVID bug, which for 18 months
has decimated our economy and dis-
rupted our daily
lives, is making
a “delta variant”
comeback.
Just like the bad
guy Jason in the
“Friday the 13th”
movies, the coro-
navirus simply will
not die, keeping all
of us in a state of
worry, agitation and
division.
Our separation
into warring polit-
ical tribes is being
both driven and
highlighted by the
doggone variant,
which WebMD.com
reports is “now the dominant strain in the
U.S.”
The delta variant is a COVID-19
mutation that isn’t as deadly as the orig-
inal bug, but it spreads much more
quickly.
“The strain has mutations on the spike
protein that make it easier for it to infect
human cells,” says WebMD.com. “That
means people may be more contagious if
they contract the virus and more easily
spread it to others.”
WebMD further reports that people
who have not been vaccinated are more
likely to be infected by this strain — that
U.S. communities with low vaccination
rates have seen a jump in cases.
But, in these wildly divisive times,
the COVID vaccine has become another
political football.
Crazy conspiracy theories abound.
A study by the YouGuv.com marketing
company reports the Insider found that
20% of Americans believe that it is “defi -
nitely true” or “probably true” that there
is a microchip implanted in the COVID-
19 vaccines.
Wacky conspiracy theories are not the
public’s only source of misinformation.
Our government leaders and public
health experts have also sown distrust
with their “evolving” advice on masks,
off -and-on-again lockdowns and the dan-
ger to school kids.
New York Times columnist Brett Ste-
phens is critical of misinformation pre-
sented by immunologist Dr. Anthony
Fauci pertaining to herd immunity and
other COVID truths.
“The impact of this misinformation on
everyday life has been immense …” Ste-
phens argued. “The credibility of pub-
lic-health experts depends on the under-
standing that the job of informing the
public means off er-
ing the whole
truth, uncertainties
included, rather than
off ering Noble Lies
in the service of
whatever they think
the public needs to
hear.”
As a result of this
failure to commu-
nicate clearly and
straightforwardly,
93 million Ameri-
cans who are eligi-
ble to get the vac-
cine have not gotten
it, according to
the Kaiser Family
Foundation.
A lot of people say they are refusing
to get the vaccine for reasons that have
nothing to do with their politics or micro-
chip implants, as the New York Times
reports.
The top reasons, says the Times, were
that they were worried about the vac-
cine’s side eff ects. They are waiting to
see if it is safe and didn’t trust vaccines
or the government.
Alas, gone are the days when a tragic
event or crisis brings us together.
Here to stay, I worry, is the incredible
political polarization with which we now
respond to all of our problems.
What our country could use this
August is a long week relaxing at the
beach, where we can try to restore our
ability to calmly and intelligently work out
our challenges.
———
Tom Purcell is an author and humor
columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Re-
view. Email him at Tom@TomPurcell.com.
JUST LIKE THE BAD GUY
JASON IN THE “FRIDAY
THE 13TH” MOVIES, THE
CORONAVIRUS SIMPLY
WILL NOT DIE, KEEPING
ALL OF US IN A STATE
OF WORRY, AGITATION
AND DIVISION.
Taking time to think about time
OTHER VIEWS
Peter Funt
W
e’ve often heard that time is
money, but in these stressed-out
days it’s more than that. Time is
increasingly a key to well-being, creatively
and emotionally.
My sister, Juliet, has taken the time
— a lot of it in recent years — to study
the topic and has written a book with her
insight and advice, called “A Minute to
Think.”
The problem is real. She cites a Gal-
lup poll showing that 23% of workers
feel burnt out more often than not, with
another 44% experiencing it occasion-
ally. Deloitte, the global professional ser-
vices company, found that two-thirds of
today’s employees feel “overwhelmed”
and 80% of men would like to work
fewer hours.
In Japan, Microsoft conducted a study
and found that a four-day work week
resulted in 40% more productivity and,
as a bonus, overhead dropped by nearly
25%.
Juliet’s conclusion: “Less can be the
new more if we give it a chance.”
Research shows that by putting more
pauses in our day — “white space,” as
Juliet refers to these breaks — thinking
improves. I was surprised to read that
MRI scans during a person’s quiet pauses
show complex activity in the default neu-
ral network of the brain — activity that
has been linked to insight, introspection,
memory and creativity.
As with every form of self-improve-
ment — diet, exercise and such —
improving our time management is no
easy task.
Moreover, no matter how compre-
hensive, no book can provide guaran-
teed instructions for saving ourselves by
saving time. But with compelling anec-
dotes and eye-opening data, “A Minute
to Think” could help clear mental clutter.
Juliet suggests addressing four ques-
tions. Is there anything I can let go of?
Where is “good enough,” good enough?
What do I truly need to know? What
deserves my attention?
I’ve heard it said that if you want
something done you should ask a busy
person. The point, of course, isn’t that
such people have more time than the rest
of us, but that they know how to make
better use of their time.
Back in 1929 Coca-Cola came up with
the tag line, “The pause that refreshes.”
Today we’ve learned to eschew sugary
drinks, but we could all benefi t from a
refreshing pause.
———
Peter Funt is a nationally syndicated
columnist.