Who is fact checking the fact checkers?

Good Friday morning to one and all on this October 16, 2009. Most of us are aware that stuff is flying all around us every second of every minute of every hour of every day. Some of what we read and see is factual while much has all different types of shading and reporting in order to prove up a particular viewpoint, while some is just downright false, period, end of story. One of the insidious things about the blogosphere is how quickly information gets distributed and how near impossible it is to get the Genie back into the bottle when trying to correct lies and distortions. This is not a right or left issue or a Democrat versus Republican problem. It exists all over the spectrum with one small spark igniting a huge wildfire of inflammatory reporting that actually has no basis in fact. I have many philosophical, moral, and fundamental disagreements with the current administration in how they view the world, how they design policy, and how they operate our government. However, I am just as incensed when people fabricate stories about this administration in order to prove their political point just like I would be if it were an administration that I was more aligned with.

There are some noted fact checking sources that I use to try to have at least some balance in trying to be informed with as much truth as possible. However, it's interesting to note that even fact checking sources are made up of people and no matter who you are, we all carry our own biases and beliefs and sooner or later it shows. An example would be where the previous administration was shown to be very much manipulating the facts to serve their interests and a source called them out on it, as it should. Yet, in the calling out of one administration versus another you detect a difference in how they are called out. One is implied to be intentionally misleading while the other may be given the benefit of the doubt. See what I mean? Are we a messed up people or what? Supposed objective analysis comes forth but it is reported with a tone and inference that favors one side or the other. So much for the heralded non-partisan watchdogs who supposedly help to keep everyone honest. In this fallen world depending on the truthfulness of fallen people is something very difficult to do.

What we end up with is a competition among watch dogs. One news source quotes from their independent fact checking resource while another knocks that source in favor of its own. Over time we have discovered that often we end up appointing foxes to guard the hen house. I receive emails all the time that are filled up with outlandish and slanderous claims that inflame the passions of people who are like minded but without any actual proof of the genuineness of the claims being made. Those emails have been sent, forwarded, and forwarded again, sometimes millions of times. People we oppose because of our differences in core beliefs are made out to be everything from murderers to child molesters without any substantiation. I don't know about you, but I reject this type of unproven charges reported as fact from any and all sides, period, end of story. The Bible does speak about truth telling and we are all called to have integrity in the words we speak. The Bible also speaks against tale bearing and gossip where slander is committed. Character assassination via lies and insinuation as a tool against our enemies is wrong in the eyes of God. May we all be aware of this incessant blight that inflicts our communication and discourse today. Amen. Have a great Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday and I will be thinking about something, Lord willing, for early on Monday morning. .....More later.