Newstalk is an Irish talk radio station. It diseminates propaganda. It's key attributes;

For example; on yesterday's breakfast show, Ivan Yates asked how we can restore Ireland's reputation. He had a studio full of people, each describing how we should implement this propaganda exercise. All of them addressed the symptoms, not a one of them discussed the main cause of Ireland's declining reputation - rampant criminality, and a complete absence of accountability,in the business / political / banking sector.

Another example; Ruari Quinn, the Minister for Education, recently made a comment regarding the Irish education system - he quite correctly pointed out that standards are slipping, and that it (the Irish education system) generally isn't as good as people believe, etc. Newstalk felt it was inapropriate for the Minister for Education to make such pronouncements - that he should have taken the opportunity to deliver some inspirational propaganda rather than speaking honestly.

Newstalk actively eschews reporting facts - if deemed too negative - in favour of interpretations that put a positive slant on events - "We are emerging from this depression!", "Our reputation has never been better!", "We did nothing wrong!", "I can't believe we are still in power!", "I can't believe the fools voted us back in again!", etc.

They favour the hysterical voices of vulgar capitalists over reasoned debate - vulgar capitalists who denounce those who favour a more equal society as lefties, vulgar capitalists who seek to exclude you if you interfere in their plans to make obscene profits, vulgar capitalists who think it is right and proper that the failures of the banks should be shouldered by those least capable of doing so, vulgar capitalists who cling to their vulgar wealth like the vulgarnouveau riche that they are. Newstalk and the era vulgaris.

Anything that actively distracts from the real issues is an impediment to change - as such Newstalk is part of the problem.

J.K.