I'm curious what significance do YOU place on the output of "independent" (?) think tanks and Columnists?

Especially when you consider the backgrounds and qualifications of the authors they often don't relate to the topics they discuss.
Are they just interesting?
Out of touch?
Very informative?
Do you detect bias
Or merely mouthpieces for parties or are they personal axe grinding.

A responder to an article on online mag defined the "Australian" as Turnbull's policy department and the party provided the sound effects.

Others have described Think Tanks as 'stink tanks' as they seem to start with a policy and then depending on their leaning justify or criticise. NB the analysis is less than objective. Are these legitimate criticisms? If so where do you go for real informative/ reliable information?

They're called 'opinion pieces' for a reason. Just look at Andrew Bolt.

A columnist is no different to what you do here. It's their perception of an event and their opinion is based on their influences, education, and experiences.

What significance do I place on them?. About 2 out of 10. Pay me, and I'll form an opinion on anything you like. 500 words enough?.

In answer to your questions Xammy; yes and no to all of them.

In other words, opinion pieces or whatever you want to call them are all over the place. They cover the full spectrum of your questions.

What significance do I place on them?

Again it is all over the place. The message put out by an organisation or individual that I respect is valued. But I'm also interested in reading pieces that I disagree with. I then ponder over whether the message is a truly held opinion, a politically biased presentation or a blurb designed to rile people and incur strong reactions.

Whichever it might be, it is still of value in helping to express different opinions and promulgate debate.

The outcomes of independent 'think tanks' are more often than not as as predictable as the jokers who nominated Mr Obama for the Nobel (peace) prize. The Governments always get the answers they want and would do well on saving money in order to back their political decisions. Just look at the 'science' used to validate the gw dogma and you get the drift. The only place to escape propaganda is the bible. The bible describes accurately human nature and the answers to our degradation. Despite centuries of opposition the words of Jesus are without equal and speak straight to the core issues in life. It is a pity that people don't have their minds and hearts washed by the Only person qualified to do so. Instead they are brainwashed by other puny humans who deny their Maker.

Runner you do carry on don't you?
Yes examinator we are being entertained and pushed in directions.
By all sides.
Even Christian fanatics [hence runners contribution].
Put the thinking cap on, spend one wasted day.
Watch fox news.
Tell me if you ever outside of Hollywood saw such constructed biased and often just plain untrue information.
Yep my mob do it too.
But we must except it happens.

I am totally disillusioned with the quality of media reporting in Australia and the rest of the world. I find the SBS news to be the most informative and least biased, the best of a bad bunch so to speak.

Take for instance the Kimberley oil spill, possible the worst ecological disaster in our history but hardly a peep out of the media.
I watched the Insiders last Sunday and 40% of the show was on the soap opera relating to Malcome Turnbull. Who cares who leads the party, I vote for the party and their policies, not the leader.

During the Vietnam war, we were sent of to fight and die under the premise of the "Domino Theory", that communism was taking over the world, spreading down thru' SE Asia. After we lost the war, did this occur, no, because the Vietnam war was a civil war, just like Korea.
Did the media ever examine why we went to Vietnam, to find out if any blame could be assigned to someone for this facicaial loss of human life, no. What a waste. Just about every war since the 2nd world war have been bogus with no good investigative journalism occuring at any stage, just yanky paranoia and propaganda like the 2nd gulf war. Why does the US think socialism and communism are the same thing?

Investigative journalism does not exist today, just controlled "we want you to believe this BS" and non reporting, just don't say anything about something and no one will know anything and it will just go away. Thank God for the internet and forums like this.

you may have noted the adverts[even here]with the light flicker rate...that induces us into a suggestive state...not unlike hypnotism..where we passivly sit and absorb subliminal input

i hesitate to suggest...that...were adverts...flashing in this posting page..no one could post a single thought...so advetts[flashing their light/subliminal flicker rate is a deliberated ploy

as is the programing...in the past it was to sell us on science godheads...docter god heads...and now nothing but cop show/type programs...and cooking shows..with a bit of riducule of fathers thrown in to break up the families

news is only bad news and sport[that never was news...predicably two teams playing one will win...its not news but about entertaining us into tribalistic division's...artificial divides to keep us divided..distracted/entertained...like in the days of rome

we get nothing resembeling real/reported/news from the media...its deliberatly so...its a process of dumbing down...read dumbing down the education system in usa...

they are making the perfect soviat party loyalist....ruled over by those thugs...who love the vile-oence on tv that provides enter-taint-meant...the program our minds with their programing

OUG,

I think you'll find subliminal ads are illegal the rate of blinking is to get your attention. I found this broke my concentration on reading the posts so..... I use Firefox as my browser (free) along with a free app called Ad Block so I don't see the ads either. :-)
PS I despise conglomerates (i.e. Microsoft) dictating to me. >:-(

flashing lights has affect..but its the content...all muder/gore/cooking and sport is infotainment...the media dosnt do indepth like check this 400 dollar a gallon oil...from pentagone research
http://www.prisonplanet.com/us-pays-400-per-gallon-for-gas-in-afghanistan.html

<<Afghanistan is also landlocked,..meaning that fuel must be transported in ways that stretch the limits of economic reason.

Because the country has no seaports,..fuel is shipped to Karachi,..in Pakistan,..then carried across land by commercial trucks through Afghanistan.

For remote bases,..gasoline is sometimes transported by air.

“One of the most expensive ways to supply fuel is by transporting it in bladders carried by helicopter;..the amount that can be flown at one time can barely satisfy the need for fuel,”..the Hill notes.

The paper notes that the $400 pricetag is referred to in Pentagon argot as the “fully burdened cost of fuel.”

The government’s Defense Energy Support Center provides fuel to the military at $2.78 per gallon,..the conveyance of which then grows exponentially..more expensive..as it travels through dangerous combat zones.

Gen. James Conway,..who runs the Marine Corps,..told a Navy forum that perilous risky routes up gasoline that originally cost $1.04 gallon up to $400.

“These are fairly major problems for us,”.Conway was quoted as saying.>>>

imagine the extra 40.000 troops[and their fuel needs...media sold us this war...then via embedding..got in bed with the warmongers...cleaning up big time..[on supplying the war machine]

the noble prize...gets it money from its patent on big explosions..obama is a war president..the war pres gets the prize..from the big bangs..but who supplies the bang that costs so many deflating usa bucks
http://www.prisonplanet.com/war-is-peace-ignorance-is-strength.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/the-imperial-presidency-marches-on.html

http://www.prisonplanet.com/danish-prime-minister-knew-wtc-would-collapse.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/new-fall-of-the-republic-trailer-police-state-control-grid.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/doctors-confirm-flu-shot-disabled-woman-as-carrey-mccarthy-lend-support.html

http://www.prisonplanet.com/max-keiser-on-jpmorgan-goldman-sachs-et-als-fraud.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/the-rich-have-stolen-the-economy.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/force-the-secrets-from-the-fed.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/white-house-met-secretly-with-corporate-healthcare-lobbyists.html

http://www.prisonplanet.com/pure-journalistic-drivel-how-does-reuters-spin-growing-arctic-ice-by-reporting-on-predictions-of-an-ice-free-arctic.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/drug-makers-and-governments-behind-swine-flu-vaccine-hysteria.html

and thats only on my second page of news today
now to go to my third link
http://whatreallyhappened.com/

oh and for my main news channel...[used to be news/radio/abc]...but get better info from
http://republicbroadcasting.org/?cmd=archives
for me...
if we didnt learn anything./..new/....its not news

Dear Examinator,

I don't have much confidence in so called
"Think Tanks." Most are privately funded -
so how can they not be partisan?
All are depended upon sponsorship and
they can't afford to violate a sponsor's
interests, or the sponsorship shall be
withdrawn. The same goes for columnists.
Very few would dare bite the hand that
feeds them.

Where do I go for information?
Various sources - but mainly - I read a great deal!

Foxy I agree. I always read the author bio if it mentions a think tank I move to the next topic. They all seem to start with a conclusion and work from there. I note that many such authors tend to write about topics out of their educational training and it shows.

There are a few independent duds who seem to write simply to publish something. One who admits in his bio, that he just passed his science degree, his works reflects this but...he's a journalist (hoo-rah and hosanna?)

A comment in a general comment section is one thing, but to me, writing for the article section should, at least, be professional. These days I generally dodge those authors who are sub standard.

Willie's observations strike a note with me.

Investigative reporting in the lame street media is limited. Two papers I know of have one person each. In one instance the "investigative" journo does little more than FOIs. Once he's been fed all else by the public first. To do otherwise is deemed too expensive. And yes, he's loathed to attack any private skulduggery.

Reporters don't seem to exist any more.(i.e. Report the facts) We now have professional journalists (awe and wonder) who sell their spin to the highest bidder.

Then there's the columnist (hark! the angels sing) most of whom tend to have some passionately held delusion in their own omnipotence.

Given that the suspect quality of all of the above I often wonder who they see as their targets audience and why ? Is the slow death of the lame street media simply the consequences of a self fulfilling prophecy? Conditioning the public via ever more superficial sensational to the lowest common denominator (nil impact). News as such doesn't exist, nothing cerebral excites us any more.

Dear Examinator,

What do you think of John Pilger or the
American, Mike Moore?

Just curious.

I worry somewhat on the influence television
has - particularly on children. Although
TV Does bring a flood of information into the home,
much of it is highly selective or distorted.
News programs, for example, tend to feature
the visually exciting or emotionally moving stories
that draw large viewing audiences - and this often
means omitting issues that are more sober but
perhaps significant also.

We take this barrage of media so much for granted
that it's easy to forget that, until a few
generations ago, most people's social exposure
was limited to face-to-face contact with a
handful of neighbours and friends, who in many
cases were very similar to one another.

Times have changed.

I still believe however, as I've written on other
threads - even if television offered 24 hours of
uplifting intelligent fare each day, a sound bite
on moral courage just doesn't penetrate. The medium
delivers information in a flash - and then it's gone.

What's found in books, by contrast, seeps into our
very being. The printed word is pondered, and it's
received only when the mind is fully engaged.
Like no other medium it has the power to stay with
us.

In my own case I learnt from biographies - that even
great individuals start out as everyday children -
letting all children know that life's possibilities
are without limit.

Sorry, didn't mean to rave on.

Foxy

I prefer Pilger to Moore. IMO Pilger tends to be more committed to what he says although he does, at times, gets a little too emotionally myopic.

Moore makes a product for his audience he's the equivalent to those specials like 'what really killed Cleopatra?' some interesting facts but relies on staging etc. He makes products for the instant set those who want to be entertained rather than informed.

Personally my favourite soap boxer is Chomsky he's rational/objective, informative and believes what he says.He was on about East Timor for years and his books on corperatism in the US are fascinating...but you know that.

I can't stress too much that you should watch Baroness professor Susan Greenfield's Fora http://www.abc.net.au/tv/fora/stories/2009/10/09/2709586.htm lecture. It adds to/amplifies what you have said with experiments etc. She explains what the "screen culture is doing' and to some degree how frightening stuff to my over reasoning brain.I've sent in a discussion topic.

Her lectures are very accessible(She's a world renown brain scientist, her current specialty is Alzheimer. she has several similar BBC videos on Line. Really an impressive person a bio that would make Einstein blush.)

It answers my discomfort with Yabby's stance on genes etc. I've ordered two of her books from UK Amazon.

I would like to appologise to examinator for going right off topic but it is sort of related...anyway I'll go to the naughty corner anyway (sigh). I've named every minute blemish in the paint work!
;-)

Dear Examinator,

Thanks for answering my question about Pilger and Moore.
I agree with you about Moore - although I've enjoyed
some of his work. As for Pilger, I used to be a great
admirer until his recent attacks on the US President -
which makes me rather wary of his motives.
In fact, it now makes me question his motives in general.
It's so disappointing to learn that 'heroes,' are
mere mortals afterall.
I had such a big 'crush,' on Pilger!

The Baroness, sounds very articulate
and the issues she raises are important ones,
especially when you consider
that the average person between the ages of three and
sixteen spends more time in front of the TV set than
in school.

Her studies sound interesting because some experts
claim that the influence of television like that of
other media, is difficult to trace with any certainty,
because it is inevitably entangled in a multitude of
influences on personality.

Anyway, I shan't say too much on this thread because you've
started a new one on the topic,
to which I'd like to contribute.

Chomsky? Yes, please!

Get ready, TV viewers, for the mass media onslaught prepared for you by the social engineers.

http://www.infowars.com/obama-mind-control-offensive-straight-out-of-unesco-eugenics-playbook/


As reported by Big Hollywood’s John Nolte yesterday,
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2009/10/15/leaked-memo-reveals-the-white-house-has-control-of-your-television-set/

..the long-expected mind control offensive will take full effect from October 19 to 25.Over 60 network television shows will “spotlight the power and personal..benefits of service.”

“All roads”, Nolte writes, “funnel into one place: online volunteer portals, including Serve.gov, where if you plug in “health care” all kinds of Planned Parenthood openings pop up along with a video dispelling..those ugly “myths” knocking ObamaCare.”>>given insurance..not medical care

http://www.infowars.com/obamacare-get-in-shape-or-pay/

http://www.infowars.com/ten-questions-about-flu-vaccines-that-doctors-and-health-authorities-refuse-to-answer/

http://www.infowars.com/merck-wins-u-s-approval-for-gardasil-vaccine-in-boys/

http://www.infowars.com/german-chancellor-ministers-get-special-vaccine-without-soft-kill-ingredients/

http://www.infowars.com/deformed-babies-in-fallujah/

It comes as no surprise that the offensive is especially directed at programs that enjoy the highest ratings in the country. Listed by initiator, the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), as ‘Campaign Elements’ for the coming mass media offensive are: “to ‘organically’ create and produce as many stories as possible about service and volunteerism and connect them in the plots of network dramas, comedies and reality shows.”

“Ideally”, states the EIF press release, “storylines will touch on one or more of the key issues that have outlined as the country’s priorities for services:

http://www.infowars.com/us-military-spreading-death/

http://www.infowars.com/economic-takeover-detailed-in-upcoming-fall-of-the-republic-trailer-4/

http://www.infowars.com/history-unfolding/

Foxy,

She shows evidence that of how the (brain) physical process that computer games etc do in fact create the brains capabilities the taxi driver example.
Watch one of her lectures.

'As for Pilger, I used to be a great
admirer until his recent attacks on the US President -
which makes me rather wary of his motives.
In fact, it now makes me question his motives in general.'

WTF?

Haha classic Foxy. If Pilger criticises Bush I'm sure you'd get a wet spot, but if he dares touch your latest lefty hero, well that's a different matter.

People are so funny. I think Opinion Columnists are just like any 'Social Commentators' (I'm still looking for that UNI course BTW antiseptic, one day I'll be a fully qualified Social Commentator), people read them to confirm what they already think.

Just like dear old Foxy here.

That's why people can get easily sucked in by the black and white minstrel shows (making fun of black people), and people like Mike Moore (making fun of people like Bush). Darn he's so funny I just knew those right wing people were dumb and simultaneously cunningly corrupt like he's sayin they are.

It can all be summed up by people hearing what they want to hear. Information doesn't come into it.

'I want to Believe'

The New American Century

This film exposes how every major war in US history was based on a complete fraud...with video of insiders themselves admitting it.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3776750618788792499&ei=bEs-SuuIEojYwgP5peHjAw&q=new+american+century#

Israel pulls textbook over 'ethnic cleansing' reference
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26232086-23109,00.html
ISRAEL'S Education Ministry has recalled all copies of a history textbook because of a passage alleging "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians during the 1948 war, a newspaper reported

Diocese Facing Abuse Suits Files for Chapter 11
http://www.jaxobserver.com/2009/10/19/diocese-facing-abuse-suits-files-chapter-11/
The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington Inc., which has pastoral charge of 233,000 Roman Catholics, sought protection Sunday night in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in an attempt to manage the potential liability resulting from a flood of clergy sexual abuse lawsuits.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/u-s-attacks-iran-via-cia-funded-jundullah-terror-group.html

http://alethonews.blogspot.com/2009/10/un-israeli-spy-devices-responsible-for.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/15/AR2009101502761.html?referrer=emailarticle

THE MATRIX AND THE U. S. CONSTITUTION

During my twelve years service as a Judge, I always insisted on the truth and placed justice above law and order! I could have prepared this article indicia of a research paper however; people tend to lose interest when articles of this nature become too technical

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:YQgevOX5WhUJ:www.stevequayle.com/News.alert/09_Global/090805.Matrix-US%2520.Constitution.pdf+the+matrix&hl=en&gl=us&sig=AFQjCNGPC8NziwlbwS49qDPvq421dSiiLg

heaps more of what REALLY is happening
http://whatreallyhappened.com/