The Politics of Coal: Here’s an Interesting and Entertaining–Yet Factual–Source
The top American comedians whose fodder is U.S. politics include household names like Jon Stewart, Steven Colbert, and John Oliver. Now, I’ve heard these people themselves warn audiences: this is not a valid way to find and ingest news; this is entertainment. Yeah. I get that. But for my money, while these guys’ shows don’t represent the right-wing counterpoint to the stories they cover, they are extremely legitimate in terms of content.
Here, for instance, is John Oliver’s recent piece on coal. Very interesting and factual–and extremely “well played.”
Craig,
Critic’s and comedians like Jon Stewart, Steven Colbert, and John Oliver perform a valuable service in exposing and curbing the excesses of political power and the egos of political movements.
The darker side of their activities is the criticism can become so bitter, obsessive and focused that talented individuals are dissuaded from entering public life and administration waste a lot of time deflecting noise rather than concentrating on good government.
Jon Stewart, Steven Colbert, and John Oliver do not have to experience the enormous and exhausting responsibilities of office, and do a great disservice to their audience by ridiculing and belittling the difficulties experience by those in public life.
It’s always a danger for media figures who play to the ‘mob’, their activities may not only diminish respect for politicians, but democratic systems and institutions.