Our class discussion showed just how unpredictable public opinion is. Professor Rosa had brought out quite a point when he stated that “Bill Clinton’s presidency was saved by public opinion”. How true! Many Americans, including me, may have been disappointed by Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky. But when considering the leadership of our country, Americans seemed to agree that his personal life, didn’t affect his ability to roll with the punches and do his job. It was public opinion that forced his critics to back off.
I would compare how journalism and public opinion roll, with a waterway. When the art of journalism is used wisely, it can be a genuine tool of democracy that taps into the “interlocking public’s” free flowing rush of public opinion and humanity. Like a huge rush of water, public opinion can be used to generate the power of citizens. Or like other power sources, public opinion can also produce unexpected surges which can be quite surprising to the operators of democracy. Water and public opinion don’t always end up where you expect it to.
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