Some years back, I recall reading a blog (don’t ask which—long since lost that list of bookmarks) wherein it was suggested that in deciding how to tackle America’s numerous problems, the powers that be needed to do “triage” in the medical sense of the word.  Now, since we are (still!) at war, I am sure all sorts of old M.A.S.H. episodes come to mind at the mention of the word; but it really is simple—someone experienced walks stretcher to stretcher and decides who gets care first because of the urgency of the injury.  This person also has the unpleasant duty of deciding whose case is utterly hopeless of course, so time is not wasted leading to loss of other lives.

As I watch the news (more and more rarely) or read it online, I surely wish somebody would come up with a news-related method for them to determine what stories to print/report.  Then perhaps the idea of prioritizing hot points and buttons could spread to other areas of life?  I mean, really, do we all NEED more drama?  And yet, every one of us can name someone in our lives who simply leaks drama like salted cucumbers leak water.  The news shows follow this tendency to very literally stupid conclusions.

They publicize silly nonsense about some actress falling off the wagon, but do not tell us real details about why Americans are losing their homes in foreclosures?  Or, when a major paper prints up the ills of the Bush Administration now afflicting America, they blame it on America’s declining middle class for taking  “huge, fat tax breaks”?  First off, we qualify as lower middle class, if only barely.   Our ‘huge’ tax break was a whopping $600 or so, if I recall.  Gee, wow, which Carribbean island should we purchase, dear?  Second, I really don’t see where any newspaper columnist gets off pointing fingers at the “middle class” as if they were Bushie Brown Shirts out throwing rocks through windows, when THEY were notably SILENT as the Bush Administration set much of the current revolving hell into motion.  So, yes, all of you wanting to point at ordinary citizens en masse as compliant and blame-worthy?  Shut the fuck up unless you had your mouth open just as wide to scream about the lies and deceptions of those in POWER positions.  I did not vote for that imbecile, I did not believe his lies about the war, I was making phone calls, bitching, screaming, protesting, and it did me no fucking good.  Possibly because Congress is incapable of separating truth from manure and none of them had the balls to be called ‘unpatriotic’ while the shit went down.  It isn’t the middle class to blame, its the elected middle management!
Now, mini-rant over, back to the idea of triage.  Really, what story affects more people, that Angelina Jolie succeeded in giving birth or that Turkish-based Kurdish rebels took German hostages to try forcing Germany to stop supporting Bush Co?  Honestly now, if online news and email were added, we could really have some fun, eh?  Like, which email should a thoughtful person, a smart person (yes, channeling Wanda here!) give more credence and attention to: the one saying there is a trail of bodies in Obama’s past (OMG…a reporter who once asked him a question died of ‘natural causes’?!) or the trail of completely verifiable and unnaturally bloodied bodies that are the result of the Bush lie-engendered war?  What if Congress had to actually see every issue facing America like those combat docs and nurses see their problems: as bleeding, hurting humans on stretchers?  Do you think they could pull their heads out of the damned pork barrel and stop thinking about re-election, if a bleeding, screaming “issue” grasped their hand in a shaky grip and cried “Help me, oh God, please help me cause it hurts, it hurts, it hurts!”

It isn’t just the news media, folks, nor is it truly just Congress, although since they do ascribe such powers to themselves; I do wish they would start a new trend. Call it triage if you like the analogy.  Or call it “pulling your head out of your ass and giving your brain some oxygen”…..in any case, fucking GET REAL.  Cause damn, the knee jerk stupid is burning and scarification is just not my thing.

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