The U.S. has fallen two spots among 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index, based they say on president trumps attacks on the press. Does it matter? Should it matter?
Probably depends on what you may think of some of the things President Trump has said about the press. The president’s use of the term fake news has become a common term and some other leaders around the world also now say it. Does it matter? Should it matter?
The president also has said the press is the enemy of the people. Some were surprised he said it. Others were glad he said it. Does it matter? Should it matter?
At the White House this week, the president’s press secretary was asked if the president supports a free press. She said of course he does and said it was ridiculous to suggest that he doesn’t support a free press.
But she said the president thinks that a free press should be a fair press. Does that matter? Should it matter?
Asking those kinds of questions about these kinds of issues do matter. And they should matter. Few if any presidents have loved the press. That’s to be expected.
But there was a past president named Thomas Jefferson who had some guidance for other presidents for all of us when he said:
"The only security of all is in a free press. The agitation it produces must be submitted to. It is necessary, to keep the waters pure."
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