Patrick J. Walsh letter: Real news buried by frivolous debate

While Forum readers were treated to a frivolous editorial page debate about using the words "holiday" or "Christmas" in our public discourse, the Republicans in Washington were busy spreading their own brand of Christmas cheer.

Thanks to last-minute congressional work before the winter break, $12.7 billion will be cut from student loan programs over the next five years.

That should be front-page news around here, but it's not.

Meanwhile, new Census Bureau information shows that average household income, after inflation, has fallen 3.6 percent since Bush took office. Add to that rising health care costs and you can see why so many feel pinched every month. Why is this not in the news either?

But don't worry. If you earn over $1 million per year, two of the new tax cuts that have just taken effect will save you about $19,000 every year.

Not that rich? Sorry, these cuts are for those making over $100,000.

It serves the interest of the wealthy and powerful when we squabble about what a Wal-Mart greeter says instead of paying attention to the events which will impact every one of us. The "war on Christmas" issue is a smokescreen.

Much of the blame lies with the for-profit media: they exist to make money and phony controversy is easier to hype than complex legislation.

Let's face it, the corporations that control the media don't want ordinary Americans to know we're working harder for less. They are among the entities benefiting from the largess of the people in political power, Democrat and Republican alike.

A liberal media? Viacom, Time Warner, Clear Channel and the other handful of media giants are only liberal when it pays to be. Otherwise they're anti-regulation and free trade right down the line.

The economy is growing. Productivity is rising. But incomes and student aid are shrinking. The "war on Christmas" was just words. The economic attack on students and the poor? That's real.

Patrick J. Walsh

Assistant professor

Corrick Center for General Education Minnesota State University Moorhead