Comment Re:Enforced vs. voluntary censorship (Score 1) 551
I entirely agree. The difference between the US and Russia is that while censorship (or, more precisely, self-censorship) exists in both, pretty much everybody in Russia knows not to trust either TV or the national radio. In the US, however, people are convinced they are getting the "real deal" on the news. In fact, they are so convinced of it, that they even feel the obligation to teach other countries (Russia one of the first among them) the meaning of the free press.
It only takes leaving the US for a few months and starting to read newspapers in any European country to realize that the illusion of the free American press is actually that - an illusion. Read Chomsky if you want a detailed explanation of how the whole thing works.
So, in some ways, the Russian system is more 'honest' - everybody knows the rules, people know how to take information they are given. The American system is a FAR more sinister one.
It only takes leaving the US for a few months and starting to read newspapers in any European country to realize that the illusion of the free American press is actually that - an illusion. Read Chomsky if you want a detailed explanation of how the whole thing works.
So, in some ways, the Russian system is more 'honest' - everybody knows the rules, people know how to take information they are given. The American system is a FAR more sinister one.
