There are times when it feels like the American news media is really dropping the ball when it comes to informing the citizenry of our democracy. A disturbing herd mentality has fallen over much of the media. Every day has its simplified "story," and every media outlet leads with, and features that "story." Frequently, the "story" ignores critical facts, and completely fails to examine any historical background. Feeding the people the "story" in this way is an act of irresponsible laziness.

This irresponsible laziness can set its roots into far more troubling soil. Public relations, damage control, and spinning public opinion are now firmly established professional vocations. Many stories that we read today are the product of a professional effort to spin the American public in a certain direction. Separating fact from fiction, truth from spin, light from heat has never been more difficult.

The internet can provide us with the opportunity to see more of the truth. We can find the stories that the mass media ignores. We can also discover enough facts out there to enable us to formulate a more intelligent position. We can find both sides of an issue, then decide for ourselves. It is worth noting, though, that the internet is also subject to the same problems that afflict the aforementioned mass media. Where to turn?

There are many worthy Internet sites out there, too many to detail here. A very interesting site to visit is www.buzzflash.com. Every day, they compile links to political stories from around the US and the world which tend to expose the truth. Be forewarned, you are going to learn a lot.

One of the best places to get a clear critique and analysis of campaign coverage is CJR (Columbia Journalism Review) The Campaign Desk.

If you'd rather get your news and information on the radio, tune in to the new Air America Radio. It is now being broadcast in many major US cities, and will soon be broadcast in San Francisco/San Jose - KVVN 1430 and San Francisco/Berkeley - KVTO 1400. Until then, it is streamed on the Web. Past programs will soon be archived. Check for a station near you.

A straightforward place to look for news is at: news.yahoo.com. Here you will find news, as well as links to the AP, Reuters, NPR, AFP, etc.

By getting your news from a variety of sources, you are far more likely to approach the truth. In the end, as voting citizens, we all must do our best to find the truth. We must recognize when we have been given inadequate information. We must recognize when our own prejudices obscure our quest to know the truth. We must share what we have learned with others, and speak to them with humility, honesty and civility. And we must forever guard against being taken in by the oversimplification, spin and prejudice that characterize our time.

Click here for more Democratic Links to important Web sites. And click here to read excerpts of some great editorials.