B(N)C

     I miss the good old B(N)C days--Before News Channels. Back then at the end of an election a lot of people did not get the president they wanted but they knew that, except for some impeachable offense, there was nothing they could do about it for four years. By the time you were old enough to vote, the concept that you don't always get what you want, had been drilled deeply into your consciousness by your parents, teachers, and pretty much every adult around you. Presidents were just one more thing in that broad unwanted category. So after an election adults just went on about the business of life--work, family, finances, etc. Politics was just one segment of the evening news.
     Fast forward a couple decades and there are probably dozens of cable channels dedicated to nothing but news 24/7. We do not have cable and I am too lazy to research the actual number, but five spring to mind immediately, so dozens seem reasonable. Being a news junkie is actually a thing now. Many people who consider hours spent on video games a complete waste of time, consider the hours they spent learning about video game addiction on a cable news channel worthwhile. They are not wasting time, they are researching things to be upset about. At best, they are well informed worriers. But the main distinguishing characteristic of news junkies is that they are pissed off. Not only are they addicted to news binge inspired anger, but they want you to be angry too. Thanks for sharing.
     What you have to remember about news networks is that:

                              They are not trying to inform you.
                              They are not even trying to bias you.
                              They are trying to attract viewers,
                              so that will attract advertisers,
                              so they will be well paid
                              to say the same things over and over.

     The best way to make people willing to listen even when there is no new news, is to make everything that happens sound urgent. Some things are urgent, the Thai soccer team trapped in a water filled cave was urgent. Rehashing the hows, whys and whethers of Trump's presidency is a moot point because of the when. Whether you love Trump or hate him, the election is over and nothing will change that for two more years. If no news is good news, then 24/7 news would be. . . really bad. Let's act like adults and go back to the business of life the way we did in the good old B(N)C days.