One more writer to ignore at the New York Times
It's Thursday and I am still reeling over a story called "Broke: Why is a nation that considers spending a civic duty approving harsher ways to punish the bankrupt?", written by Walter Kirn for the New York Times Sunday Magazine.
He blames bankruptcies in America on credit card and finance companies, financial pages and cable business channels touting consumerism and generally speaking, our entire capitalist economy.
He summons up our compassion and sympathy with statements like "And then someone falls ill or is divorced or suffers a loss of emotional control and buys a $9,000 plasma tv...""The next day a letter from the National Guard arrives informing the fellow to pack a duffel bag because he's headed to Iraq...the telephone rings...but he doesn't answer" because he knows it's the credit card co. at least that is what Mr. Kirn implies. Good grief! This guy has a flair for the melodramatic. He should be writing soap operas or be in the entertainment business.
I check his byline, "a frequent contributor to the magazine" and a novelist. That explains it! No business background, no money or finance education, no experience as a credit counselor or a loan officer, just a dramatic story written by a fiction writer.
There was a time when you were expected to know something about the subject you wrote about. Mr. Kirn should at least read the business pages before he condemns their messages. But this isn't really what I object to.
Increasingly "journalism" relies on feelings over facts. Emotions reign over reason. Analysis and critical thinking are considered hostile, antagonistic and (horrors) lacking compassion.
When facts are presented, they only reflect a small part of the story. Divorces and medical expenses are cited as major reasons for bankruptcies. But aren't these really just bad decisions? Afterall we choose who we marry. I don't know of many arranged marriages anymore. Furthermore if my husband spent 3 years worth of medical insurance on a plasma tv, I would probably divorce him too. But you see that is MY choice.
Mr. Kirn never mentions the choices individuals have or the decisions they make that contribute to their situations. He never mentions who PAYS for these bankruptcies, you know like you and me with our increased interest rates and the higher prices of goods & services. He never mentions the enormous BENEFITS of credit. It finances college educations, builds homes, starts businesses. Women fought for the same priviledge to obtain and use it as men. It literally can mean the difference between hope & despair. Even Third World countries know what a difference a loan can make.
I do not consider Mr. Kirn's writing as responsible, credible journalism so I won't be reading any more of his articles. But I wonder why The New York Times publishes his work.
Last I heard Walter was also writing/working for a calling card company. That sounds pretty close to those evil credit lenders with escalating unfair rates he so adamantly objects to.
He blames bankruptcies in America on credit card and finance companies, financial pages and cable business channels touting consumerism and generally speaking, our entire capitalist economy.
He summons up our compassion and sympathy with statements like "And then someone falls ill or is divorced or suffers a loss of emotional control and buys a $9,000 plasma tv...""The next day a letter from the National Guard arrives informing the fellow to pack a duffel bag because he's headed to Iraq...the telephone rings...but he doesn't answer" because he knows it's the credit card co. at least that is what Mr. Kirn implies. Good grief! This guy has a flair for the melodramatic. He should be writing soap operas or be in the entertainment business.
I check his byline, "a frequent contributor to the magazine" and a novelist. That explains it! No business background, no money or finance education, no experience as a credit counselor or a loan officer, just a dramatic story written by a fiction writer.
There was a time when you were expected to know something about the subject you wrote about. Mr. Kirn should at least read the business pages before he condemns their messages. But this isn't really what I object to.
Increasingly "journalism" relies on feelings over facts. Emotions reign over reason. Analysis and critical thinking are considered hostile, antagonistic and (horrors) lacking compassion.
When facts are presented, they only reflect a small part of the story. Divorces and medical expenses are cited as major reasons for bankruptcies. But aren't these really just bad decisions? Afterall we choose who we marry. I don't know of many arranged marriages anymore. Furthermore if my husband spent 3 years worth of medical insurance on a plasma tv, I would probably divorce him too. But you see that is MY choice.
Mr. Kirn never mentions the choices individuals have or the decisions they make that contribute to their situations. He never mentions who PAYS for these bankruptcies, you know like you and me with our increased interest rates and the higher prices of goods & services. He never mentions the enormous BENEFITS of credit. It finances college educations, builds homes, starts businesses. Women fought for the same priviledge to obtain and use it as men. It literally can mean the difference between hope & despair. Even Third World countries know what a difference a loan can make.
I do not consider Mr. Kirn's writing as responsible, credible journalism so I won't be reading any more of his articles. But I wonder why The New York Times publishes his work.
Last I heard Walter was also writing/working for a calling card company. That sounds pretty close to those evil credit lenders with escalating unfair rates he so adamantly objects to.
posted by ljmcinnis at 11:06 AM
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