Letters to the Editor
'Belief perseverance' is strong in light of FOX News lawsuit
Centuries ago, Sir Francis Bacon lamented that people’s beliefs persisted long after they were disproved. Social scientists today call this phenomenon “belief perseverance,” and we see it at work as the Dominion defamation lawsuit unfolds.
Dominion is suing FOX News because their hosts falsely reported election corruption before, during and after the election. Sworn testimony and internal documents show FOX hosts never believed their guests’ claims of election fraud, but allowed them to deliberately mislead their audience anyway. Rupert Murdoch admitted that those lies were perpetuated because they kept viewers engaged and thus profits high.
Off-screen, hosts and executives condemned the conspiracy theorists using words like, “Ludicrous,” “totally off the rails,” and “F’ing lunatics.” Yet, FOX continued to invite Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani and other dissemblers on their shows. For example, Maria Bartiromo told Powell, “I know that there were voting irregularities. Tell me about that.” Lou Dobbs agreed with Giuliani’s claims of rampant election fraud, calling them an “effort to overthrow the president of the United States.” Sean Hannity disbelieved his guests’ allegations, but called them “serious and credible.”
Tucker Carlson deliberately misrepresented events, but that’s not all. He also blocked the truth from coming forward. After FOX reporter Jacqui Heinrich declared Dominion voting machines were accurate, Carlson responded, “Please get her fired,” and “This needs to stop immediately.” As shown above, FOX News is like Big Time Wrestling: They are only pretending for their fans; they’re actors, not newscasters.
As Bacon predicted, after learning the network delivers propaganda, many FOX viewers continue to engage in belief perseverance. Despite FOX admitting they had no intentions of being fair, balanced, or even truthful, devoted viewers seem unconcerned, not even demanding an apology. They just continue to consume the raw meat FOX serves up even after they know it is poisoned. Amazing.
Richard Kamischke
Grand Haven Township
So much for smaller, limited government
To Ottawa County Commission Chair Joe Moss and Administrator John Gibbs:
I have always understood the Republican Party to have the position supporting smaller government. Yesterday I came home to learn that in less than three months from the OI majority taking office in the county commission, a new position requiring more tax payor dollars is needed because Mr. Gibbs has so much work, alas due to a “divided commission.”
And some of that added work came from placing Mr. Gibbs on the housing commission and booting off our commissioner, Doug Zylstra, who has been a responsible member. Well, well, well! Isn’t this interesting!
Norma Killilea
Holland
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Letters: 'Belief perseverance' is strong in light of FOX News lawsuit
