Disenchanted, Isolated, Alienated

So, I was watching CNN on break at work recently, and an idea hit me like Tyson uppercut: I don't care about it anymore.  I've always felt that as sentient humans and citizens of the world, we have a responsibility to be well informed and mentally active.  However, after ingesting hours of rancid doom reels, I've ceased caring. Even the newspapers can't offer me solace.  Everywhere I turn, the media throws dramatic and flashy packages around about America's impending demise because its credit rating fell ONE grade from AAA to AA+!  Tell me, does ONE letter grade from ONE rating agency really make much of an impact on ANYONE's existence?  No, it doesn't.  But, it sells like crack in Harlem.  Fanatics on both ends of the Hitler - Stalin spectrum eat this stuff up, just to blame it on the other side.  

Historically, mankind had an excellent firewall against this onslaught of drivel:  sovereignty of mind.  Sadly, few employ it daily.  Political media & social media cultures promote easily relate-able stories to stir emotions and views / posts / heated one sided arguments with whomever will listen.  There's no point in having your own opinion when no one respects it.  I hear story after story about winning over the idealogical independents to "x" cause.  Perhaps they don't support it because it's simply not a good cause!  

I should like to thank FOX & MSNBC for ruining news, Facebook for killing everyone's corporeal social skills, Kindle for killing Borders, and the ad agencies for making independent thought irrelevant.  Ayn Rand wrote about how forced collective thinking is terrible for everyone in the Fountainhead, and I certainly agree.