The ‘Daily Me’ is consistent with individuals’ trend towards complete solipsism that we have discussed in class. A common perception is that the ability to chose which media are exposed to and which we ignore is highly democratic. Sunstein’s fundamental argument is against this perception. He argues it is more damaging (undemocratic) to burry yourself deeper and deeper under your preferred ideology. A cornerstone of democracy is that all viewpoints and ideologies are tolerated and heard, not only ones pleasing to you. A teacher once told me that one does not truly believe in free speech until they can tolerate speech that they detest.

It is interesting to me that people will sort through the information glut to find an ideology that reinforces their beliefs, yet won’t do the same work to try to decipher the truth about that particular ideology. Its postmodern news consumption at its finest; an information society so cluttered with opposing viewpoints that no trace of an underlying truth is evident. For example, why aren’t people more alarmed by the Bush Administration’s denial of the ‘Due Process Rights’ to detainees? What is this, the Scottsboro Boys again? I find it no coincidence that as postmodernism manifests itself in technology’s relationship with society, it does in government policies too.
http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/

The heart of the matter is that the president broke the law, deliberately and repeatedly, no matter what his rationale was for doing so. We do not have a system of government in which the president has the right to violate laws, even if he believes doing so will produce good results. . . .

The NSA eavedsdropping scandal, as its core, is not an eavesddropping scandal. It is a lawbreaking scandal . . .

If people opposed to the government and their continuing fear-mongering and bullying are considered un-American, then call me a terrorist. How is opposing the unraveling of the constitution un-American? Isn’t that more American if anything? And of the lasting effects of 9-11, I think turning patriotism into a contest is among the worst. That and all the shitty bake sales and sing-alongs and bad theater in the name of ‘not letting the terrorists win.”