Pro
by Spencer Shell
The Colbert Report and Daily Show with John Stewart are two of the funniest shows on television.
These kinds of “fake” news shows, despite their liberal slant, inform the general public much more than any dry straight news programs.
In fact, according to the results of the new Pew Survey on News Consumption, a survey taken every two years that asks three tests questions, “The Colbert Report and The Daily Show are notable for having relatively well-informed audiences that are younger than the national average.”
Not only are viewers more informed, but according to the survey, they are more informed than those who watch the “real” cable news shows.
Being informed though isn’t necessarily what this argument is about.
Are these viewers who are becoming better informed by watching these shows selling their conservative souls in the process?
Arguably no.
Any person with half a brain should be able to judge what they do or do not agree with, and those who cannot are likely doomed from the start, and would probably believe any well-worded thing that was thrown their way.
People manipulated by the type of political comedy portrayed on these shows are the same type of people who believe that Barack Obama is a secret Muslim.
In the very nature of these shows being classified as comedy shows gives them the opportunity to not be as politically unbiased as other news channels are supposed to be, but fail at it miserably.
By being able to be funny while reporting the news, viewers are able to see something that actually catches their interest, and in the process become better informed.
Like anyone who watches other bias news channels like MSNBC or Fox News, and don’t open themselves up to other views and opinions, are limiting themselves, but that is their own choice.
Con
by Elaine Noel
How exciting! The youth of today no longer have to worry about who to vote for – or how to think politically for that matter.
All one has to do is turn on the news – the Colbert Report and the Daily Show – and all political theories are hand fed in the form of clever rhetoric and satire.
The youth of today are busy and involved. They barely have time for TV any more, with all of the Xbox and texting that consumes so much time.
The TV that is watched has to really count, and that is why most turn to the dynamic duet of comedy and news.
The basic tenants of both shows are to mock everything conservative, and to exult and laud the liberal. If this is the main source for political news, it is no wonder that the youth of the United States are leaning more and more liberal and quoting Stephen Colbert.
Is there anything that can be done about this unnerving development?
Are the few conservatives that are left in this country willing to stand by and watch as everyone around them grows up to believe in what the writers of two Comedy Central shows tell them?
One would hope not.
The founding fathers of this country were adamant that only a country with at least two parties would be strong enough to balance out and survive.
The solution to this problem is simple.
By adding a third comedy show that has Amy Poehler mocking and deriding the liberal side.
Since the youth are getting their views from the “news” by adding this new view point, it will force them to make decisions instead of just believing word for word what Stephen Colbert and John Stewart tell them to.
Plus, youth are more likely to listen to a funny pretty girl.
