What has more power: The government or Media?

[~Infinity~]

In the supposedly "land of the free" We are controlled by two things. The first and most obvious one is the government. They enforce the laws. ( even though the people are suppose to have a say in what goes but thats a different story.) The second one is the media. I don't just mean television. I mean video games, magazines, books, advertisements, and such. The question is which one has more control over the public?

 

[Zolga Owns]

The media most defiantly.

What do we read/watch more? Government infomercials or mindless television?


The youth of our generation (GAWD I sound old...and I'm a youth XD) are greatly influenced by the media due to the fact that our lives revolve around it. Be it the internet,books,games etc.

 

[Jam Stunna]

The government has more control. No media outlet can force you to do anything, while the government can.

The media has more influence, however. It can shape your perceptions and your wants and needs in a far more effective way than the government ever could.

Unless you consider the power of persuasion a form of control.

 

[~Infinity~]

Would bill clinton be considered?

 

[Jam Stunna]

Would bill clinton be considered?

Haha, Slick Willie.

 

[IDK]

I do consider the power of persuasion a form of control, but I do completely agree with you Jam. I feel that if persuasion is to be a form of control, the persuader must be an expert with speech. Members of the media may have a bit, or even a lot of experience in this area, but becoming a politician revolves greatly around the ability to speak and debate. The government has the edge in that area.

While no media outlet can force you to do anything, you underestimate the stupidity of many of the citizens of America. While television CAN provide a good amount of knowledge, it is often biased, especially in the news media. Sometimes it just drives me crazy how i can't get unbiased news about current politics. So much of America is made up of mindless people who will listen to this and do whatever they say on FOX News for the right, or MSNBC for the left.

While THIS is true, if the government attempts to manipulate the people to do something, the power to overthrow them is given to us by the constitution. The media, however, is given the benefit, not the restriction, of the constitution. They are protected by the first amendment, and other sections. They have the right to do or say nearly whatever they want, and when they at the same time have the power to broadcast that to the entire world, they are a greatly powerful, underestimated force.

 

[cmpr94x]

Would bill clinton be considered?

What is this supposed to mean?

Alright, I think the government has more power and control because they have the ability to influence what the media can say. The media seems like it has influence because the government stays in the background pulling its strings.

I totally agree with you IDK on American stupidity. I have seen many people buy things without research simply because it looks cool on the commercials. I am guilty of this behavior on occasions but it isn't very bad.

 

[Zook]

I'd have to say the media has more influence over our lives. The general population is gullible enough to swallow all the dirt the media throws on our plate as 'truth.'

Besides, people can always overthrow the government, but not the media.

 

[Zolga Owns]

In light of these views I have reassessed my opinion a little.

While the government controls the media, it still does not mean that the media is less powerful. Now I'm leaning on equal. Yes the government has laws about what the media can and can not do BUT when it comes to the internet they really can't do much.

Sure they can trace an ip address to an offending source and remove the content but they would have done it far too late as its message would have been spread already. This is running under the assumption that the internet is included in your definition of media.

I agree with you about the American Stupidity point, some people in this country need to learn to see through the lies and propaganda to find the truth.

 

[manhunter098]

I really dont think the internet falls under conventional media. But I do think that right now the media has more power than the government, of course that can easily be changed. But as it stands people just side with the view the media gives them, so when it comes to who get voted in and what gets passed, the media really does hold control over it, they won Obama the 2008 elections after all. Well that and Sarah Palin.

 

[RDK]

Persuasion is only a form of control if you're weak-minded, which, I would probably go as far to say, comprises the majority of America today. But still.

Ignorance and weak-mindedness accounted for, the government still has more control than the media. The media only can only have"control" over you if you let it.

 

[~Infinity~]

What is this supposed to mean?

Alright, I think the government has more power and control because they have the ability to influence what the media can say. The media seems like it has influence because the government stays in the background pulling its strings.

I totally agree with you IDK on American stupidity. I have seen many people buy things without research simply because it looks cool on the commercials. I am guilty of this behavior on occasions but it isn't very bad.

Bill cliton was an exceptional speaker. He was persuasive, and had a certain power over people.




The media could make anyone look bad, or good with a simple news cast or a spoof of a person could, slander, or increase ones popularity.

 

[Darkurai]

The media. No doubt.

We rely on the media so much. The media is pretty much what tells us everything we know. People blindly believe in it, so much to the point that we believe in it more than we do the real world at some times.

 

[Mewter]

It's a paradox. They influence each other. The media can change people's views and thus elect people to the government through persuasion and influence, so that the media really becomes the one in control, or the government can shut up the media through the law.
It just seems to me that whoever takes advantage first is the one who ends up winning.

 

[aeghrur]

The Media. They basically shape the way society views things now. They have such a huge influence in our lives and can make just about anyone famous or infamous. Look at Disney and those crappy stars, they're freaking famous yet they can't even act/sing. Why? Disney channel+news about them. >_>

 

[~Infinity~]

I agree, media shapes reality!

 

[Lord Viper]

The government can control pretty much almost anything, including the media at this point. Only thing media can corrupt at this point IMO, is your money or education plan.

 

[manhunter098]

The government can control pretty much almost anything, including the media at this point. Only thing media can corrupt at this point IMO, is your money or education plan.

The media can also influence politicians, who pass the laws. Just because the government can control the media doesnt mean that it will. As it stands right now the media is, indirectly, the main influence on the government. Plus there is that thing we have called free speech written in which limits the governments power over the media, so unless we adopt a new constitution in the US, I will say the media definitely has the most control right now.

 

[cmpr94x]

Manhunter, how do we know that the government isn't controlling the media? The government lets the media tell what it wants you to know. I definitely believe there are large restrictions that we don't know of.

 

[Aesir]

Manhunter, how do we know that the government isn't controlling the media? The government lets the media tell what it wants you to know. I definitely believe there are large restrictions that we don't know of.

Most corporations own some sort of monopoly on the media and it's many outlets, and they also buy a lot of votes from senators and congress men. The media is the biggest propaganda machine ever created, it can make or break presidents, sway elections, ect...Though the real thing is Corporations own the media and sway the politicians, so in reality if you wanna know who has more power it's big business.

 

[manhunter098]

Manhunter, how do we know that the government isn't controlling the media? The government lets the media tell what it wants you to know. I definitely believe there are large restrictions that we don't know of.

I really highly doubt it. The media at least in terms of the news just reports stuff with their own views added on to it, nothing the government should really even worry about regulating. Its just that all of the media combined does have a massive effect on the way the people think.

 

[Mewter]

It's sad how powerful the media really is....(California Prop 8 commercials come to mind)

.. and the government can just shut them up using the law.

Scratch that. They have the right of free speech.

Government(Sections/ Parts of of): Pass laws, decide foreign/native affairs, federal stuff.
Also can run adds, commercials, newspapers..... (Media)
Can run big businesses.

Media: Sway opinions=Pass/ no pass to laws, elect government officials, etc.

Big business: Tons of money
Protected by right of free speech
Can run adds and commercials and newspapers, TV programs, infomercials....(Media) which influences government.

But then, can the government cancel the big businesses out by declaring certain acts unconstitutional or wrong and bring it to the public's attention.
The media isn't the powerful one here, but is merely a tool.
In my opinion, the government wins in this scenario. Whatever others such as business throw at them, they can counter. They may not silence them, but they sure can play the same game.

 

[Airgemini]

The media definately has more power. It influences lots of minds, although thats not to say the government doesnt have any power, but just not as much in my opinion.

 

[IDK]

Viper, have you read Fahrenheit 451? Not only is that not all they can effect, but with that effect they can do a lot more than you think. With no money or education, the people have no knowledge, nor real power. What are the people to do to fight back against anything, when they are completely powerless? The media can completely render a person from society, and make them look like they're worse than Hitler. As I stated before, (something i sincerely doubt you read) the government may be at the moment able to do more, but if they do anything the people don't like the constitution gives us the power to overthrow them. On the side of the media, they are protected by the constitution, and given it's benefits, not restrictions.

And Mewter, although i side strongly with no on 8, both sides of the advertisements were loads of... well... ****. The government has no power to declare acts unconstitutional without them actually being unconstitutional, and they cannot revoke the right to a fair trial, and due process.

Cmpr, I do not fully doubt what you say, but many statements that begin with "How do we know that...?" are replied to with

I really highly doubt it.

It's just not a credible way to get your point across.

Aesir, monopolies are illegal...

 

[Aesir]

Aesir, monopolies are illegal...

You missed the point completely congrats.

Monopolies are yes illegal. However Corporations (aka plural) Own the media and all it's outlets. See plural, it's not one corporations owning the entire thing, it's many that own the entire thing. That's what I meant perhaps I should have pointed that out, but I figured people would have realized what I meant as it's a big issue I talk about that encompasses a bulk of many different issues I find meaningful.

 

[Mewter]

Viper, have you read Fahrenheit 451? Not only is that not all they can effect, but with that effect they can do a lot more than you think. With no money or education, the people have no knowledge, nor real power. What are the people to do to fight back against anything, when they are completely powerless? The media can completely render a person from society, and make them look like they're worse than Hitler. As I stated before, (something i sincerely doubt you read) the government may be at the moment able to do more, but if they do anything the people don't like the constitution gives us the power to overthrow them. On the side of the media, they are protected by the constitution, and given it's benefits, not restrictions.

"Knowledge is power."
The media hides things from us, and through our ignorance, it gets it's power. But the media is still only a tool for people. Ignorant people with(as you said) no education are the most susceptible to it. I fully agree with what you are saying here.

And Mewter, although i side strongly with no on 8, both sides of the advertisements were loads of... well... ****. The government has no power to declare acts unconstitutional without them actually being unconstitutional, and they cannot revoke the right to a fair trial, and due process.

But sometimes the things invoked by media turn out to be unconstitutional. It may not be that way all the time, but we all know that it happens.
Edit: Though the people who use the media are the powerful ones, the media as a whole has all the power.

 

[Mr.Fakeman]

Very interesting topic by the way! Now, how I see is the media has some factors of control than the government is missing and Vice Versa. But, you have to consider how they approach the public; So you could say the media is more involved. On the other hand, the government can just use a cane to shape even a country up by it's power. Right now, I cannot say that the media has more power because modern day society is being consumed by every ounce of it. Because I can't just disregard the government side of things and you have to remember to consider government side aswell, like a doublethink (what I mean by 'doublethink' is that you have two sides to consider and consider ALWAYS!). But then again, the government needs the media to respond (so in this situation the media is a bridge between 'independent minds' and just the daddy). As for the media's perspective, do they really need the government to acutally continue exclusive control?

 

[Eor]

The government has more power because it's actually a patrially unified system, the media might have more power, but their is no real sense of "mass media" anymore, that now stretches from crazy blogs to the new york times, with none of them working together for any viewpoint.

 

[ElemMasterZeph92]

I would say the government because the government enforces things, while the media an only influence the people. The media could get people to all agree on something but only the government has the right to choose what to do.

 

[Mr.Fakeman]

Don't forget that, there exists a non-logical side to the media (this is for weak minds as RDK explained). They could just be using pictures and other explicit representations to create a false agena for gullible people, not that the public is that gullible. The thing is that the media still know that there are still those kind of people out there and so they continue to throw this at us through TV, Internet, Newspapers etc. Sometimes, I think their just trying to agitate the government.

 

[Mr.Fakeman]

I would say the government because the government enforces things, while the media an only influence the people. The media could get people to all agree on something but only the government has the right to choose what to do.

The ironic thing is, that the media is still not out of the game... It's just funny to think about it.
There just pulling the government's leg, but at the same time they need the media!

 

[Mr.Fakeman]

Hard to say in my opinnion.

I'd have to say the media has more influence over our lives. The general population is gullible enough to swallow all the dirt the media throws on our plate as 'truth.'



Besides, people can always overthrow the government, but not the media.

Here is one reason why it is hard to say who has the more power over who, if you think about it the media has an array of ways to tackle a variety of situations. As the government will acutally just lift a finger to dab things back to place the way they want it... the contradictions are nearly endless.

 

[Zolga Owns]

Triple Post whut?


Anyways....>.>

The media still has more power it could not be a paradox because of our right to free speech.

 

[Mewter]

Here is one reason why it is hard to say who has the more power over who, if you think about it the media has an array of ways to tackle a variety of situations. As the government will acutally just lift a finger to dab things back to place the way they want it... the contradictions are nearly endless.

The US government can not hush up any type of free speech unless it is destructive or their own. The government can do almost nothing to counter the media(not that it matters since it's a jumble of different opinions, anyways) other than use their own advertisements. Whenever someone's opinions contradicts the government's choices, they (the people)can keep speaking. No one can/ should stop them, unless it is a death threat or bombing threat, etc. For example, if the government runs ads to get people to join the military, others can run ads against it. The government can NOT prod the people or"dab things back to the place they want it..." unless.... the people agree and they completely change the constitution.
The people with the most money are always going to be the ones to have the most influence. Among the jumble of opinions, some will stick out like a sore thumb.
Now, as to who has the most power as to what's going on? The government. They can order armies, set conferences, determine a prisoner's fate. Can the media do these things? They can only do these things to an extent by protesting.

 

[zrky]

The media definitely has more power, one way to put it is like this: The media has hundreds of different magazines and newspapers that are critical about things show you who screwed who and who is in rehab, but the government only has people who watch c-span, CNN, or NBC to follow. So basically the media having more people that pay attention they definitely have more power when it comes to things they get away with. On some things the government has more power such as making things legal or illegal, but that aside the media really does have more power.

 

[Firus]

Ultimately, I think it's the media.

The government enforces things, yes. But we elect officials to do these things. We choose the government. And the media greatly affects the choices of some.

Take Sarah Palin. Due to becoming a candidate for Vice President, one clip being cut the right way, and a Saturday Night Live skit with Tina Fey, acting as her, saying "I can see Russia from my house!" and everyone being convinced that she said that, she will never have any credibility again.

Let's face it; there are some people who know what they're doing in this country and vote intelligently and informed. Then there's the vast majority of the population who gets all of their news from either a biased source, and doesn't question or compare the news, or The Daily Show and other satirical shows. If the media came out with a news report tomorrow saying "PIGS GREW WINGS AND FLEW AWAY TO THE MOON!", 50% of the population (if not more) would believe it, I guarantee you.

 

[Eor]

Yes, everyone is just a sheeple except for the smart people intelligent enough to read blogs

 

[Aesir]

Yes, everyone is just a sheeple except for the smart people intelligent enough to read blogs

Yeah we smart people we read blogs, drink at Starbucks and go to state uni's

 

[Mr.Fakeman]

Ultimately, I think it's the media.

The government enforces things, yes. But we elect officials to do these things. We choose the government. And the media greatly affects the choices of some.

Take Sarah Palin. Due to becoming a candidate for Vice President, one clip being cut the right way, and a Saturday Night Live skit with Tina Fey, acting as her, saying "I can see Russia from my house!" and everyone being convinced that she said that, she will never have any credibility again.

Let's face it; there are some people who know what they're doing in this country and vote intelligently and informed. Then there's the vast majority of the population who gets all of their news from either a biased source, and doesn't question or compare the news, or The Daily Show and other satirical shows. If the media came out with a news report tomorrow saying "PIGS GREW WINGS AND FLEW AWAY TO THE MOON!", 50% of the population (if not more) would believe it, I guarantee you.

Now, that you mention the public voting concept this is where it get's interesting. Like I said the media has tons of ways to attack things, while the government has just one if not few foundations of considerable power. But you have that fact, that possibility that the Public overthrows government or maybe they use brute force to shoot em down? I don't think so... Although, I doubt that 50% of the population would believe some thing boldy vivid as "PIGS GREW WINGS AND FLEW AWAY TO THE MOON". Rather a twisted analogy, but I get where your coming from mate.

 

[Surri-Sama]

I would have to say Media, all you have to do is look at the biggest icons and you can see it

Oprah

Disney

...Need i say more? (I will anyways)

These massive icons CONTROL a lot of power...any book Oprah names is a instant bestseller...any music Disney comes out with becomes top 5...

This just goes to show massive amounts of people will eat anything these ...icons (I hate calling them that but i don't know what else to address them as) produce, without questioning it.