While the fantastic writer, Card, might not go as far as some in distancing himself from party politics, he is right on about truth in journalism, and the financial "meltdown". For those thinking of voting, take a look at his piece, which spells out the double-standard the pop media have when it comes to "scandals" for Republicans versus the wrongdoing of Dems.

Good stuff. Later tonight, Gardner Goldsmith will chat with Sheldon Richman, of "The Freeman" magazine, WWW.FEE.ORG and www.SheldonRichman.com. The subject will be his take on the "bailouts", Alan Greenspan, and the upcoming meeting of world "leaders" to formulate a "new system of capitalism". Look for it here.

Thanks to Sheldon, and to Biker Bill (he of the Free State, who supplied this Card article)!

Here's the opening of the piece:

Would the Last Honest Reporter Please Turn On the Lights?
By Orson Scott Card

Editor's note: Orson Scott Card is a Democrat and a newspaper columnist, and in this opinion piece he takes on both while lamenting the current state of journalism.

An open letter to the local daily paper — almost every local daily paper in America:

I remember reading All the President's Men and thinking: That's journalism. You do what it takes to get the truth and you lay it before the public, because the public has a right to know.

This housing crisis didn't come out of nowhere. It was not a vague emanation of the evil Bush administration.

It was a direct result of the political decision, back in the late 1990s, to loosen the rules of lending so that home loans would be more accessible to poor people. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were authorized to approve risky loans.

What is a risky loan? It's a loan that the recipient is likely not to be able to repay.

THE LINK:
http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/081017light.html