Do voices of the nation's news and opinion media only reflect the cynicism that Americans have toward government? Or do they go out of their way to help create it?
Consider for example this column from the Boston Herald's Lauren Beckham Falcone, published the morning after Governor Sarah Palin's speech to the Republican National Convention:
Yes, Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin has a lot on her plate: a pregnant teen daughter, a son on his way to Iraq, an infant with Down syndrome and a looming national election.
But must her hair suffer? With her long, straight, often pinned-up locks, Palin looks one humid day away from fronting a Kiss cover band.
"It's about 20 years out of date," said Boston stylist Mario Russo of the Alaska governor's 'do. "Which goes to show how off she might be on current events."
For readers who are rolling their eyes about this nonissue - get real. People talk about hair - from Mitt Romney's perfectly sprayed coif, John Edward's Breck do, McCain's unfortunate combover and Barak's No. 3 buzz cut.
She goes on to quote other hair stylists who also hate the governor's hair. And she adds her own observation that:
In fact, some argue Palin might be a little too long in the tooth for such tresses, sparking another squabble: to cut or not to cut after hitting 40. Yes, long hair evokes youth, but long hair after 40 can flirt with desperation.
Falcone's column generated literally hundreds of online reader comments. Some wondered if she was trying to be funny, in a biased attacking liberal sort of way. But most thought the subject and the smug tone were just plain stupid.
"Well, aren't you a credit to the world of journalism," posted one reader. "Consider your degree wasted."
There might be hope for us yet.
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