From FactCheck.org………..circa…Nov. ‘04

Kerry claimed  “the president has underfunded [the No Child Left Behind law] by $28 billion,” but that’s an opinion and not a fact.

Actually, as we reported  last March, funding for the federal Department of Education grew a whopping 58% under Bush during his first three years, and Bush proposed another 5% increase for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, including sizeable increases in spending for children from low-income families and for special education for disabled children. Even the Kerry campaign’s own data — which they provided to FactCheck.org at our request — shows funding for programs specific to the No Child Left Behind law have increased by $2.7 billion, or 12%, since the new law was enacted.

This is the kind of information I prize because it is based on factual research.  So much that is floating around out there is of questionable source and merit.  Since our country is so polarized, it helps the discussion and debate to rely on information with a basis in fact.  If also lends an enormous amount of credibility to those on the opposing side when assertions are backed up by real facts.  Much in the public domain today finds its roots in urban myths, rumor, conjecture and hyperbole. It doesn’t do our country any good to perpetuate such things. 

When I was an undergrad working one of my summer jobs, I witnessed a shooting.  I called an ambulance and went to the aid of the victim.  Three or four newspapers reported the story.  There was almost no factual information in any of the stories.  I was astounded. 

Years later, I began writing a book about bias and inaccuracy primarily in newspapers, but also in TV news reporting.  Through extensive research, and pouring over thousands of articles, dozens of major news publications and loads of local and national news broadcasts, it was apparent that political reporting, in particular was flawed.  Facts were supplanted with the bias of the writers, editors and publishers.

This problem, brought to light in recent years, has caused much of the public debate and suspicion that now separates the country.  The absence of facts drives debate and allegiance, and has given rise to new sources of information.  What you trust, determines in large part, who you are ideologically in modern day
America.  If every political news story was required to reference fact sources, it would enhance the credibility of the news sources and lessen the divide that exists in every community today. 

The new sources of information need to ‘keep it real’ if they’re going to succeed at bettering the business of news and views.  Bloggers and the newer news networks have to provide a value-added experience by providing fact-based information that is indisputable.  Only then will the ‘new media’ supplant the old.