"You're right from your side / I'm right from mine," Bob Dylan wrote in one of his more obscure songs. Similar sentiments from other artists capture the convoluted nature of mutual truth that we all seek in one way or another.
And this raises a particular dilemma for journalists as we attempt to cover corporate and civic affairs for the public. Thus our methodology. I should elaborate.
I remember an incident from our "Circle of Poison" investigation in the 1970s and 1980s. I was focused on the moral aspect of U.S. companies shipping banned pesticides to Third World countries, which exposed farmworkers and their families to health risks, and led to more pollution of the environment, which of course knows no borders.
At an international gathering of people concerned with this issue in Mexico, including many who worked at chemical companies, a representative of Dow Chemical approached me and said, "I understand your concern but what's wrong with helping a hungry world eat?"
His point was that even if the pesticides were considered too dangerous for us here in the U.S., food scarcity was such in poorer countries that such compromises made sense. After all, at least in the short term, pesticides boost food productivity.
His comment got me thinking and we started investigating what crops the hazardous pesticides were being applied to. That research led to a breakthrough in our analysis, as almost all of the crops sprayed in Third World countries did not go to local people but were "export crops" destined to end up right back here in the U.S. with you and me.
This completed the "circle" in our analysis and guaranteed the book would cause more waves than it would have had we solely focused on the impacts overseas.
Thus did an industry representative help us complete a major piece of our investigation. My guess is that he didn't know himself what the pesticides were sued for; he just assumed they were part of an effort to boost local food production.
This example is why we always counsel students and young journalists to probe all sides of the issues they investigate. Environmentalists and worker safety activists may have one perspective; manufacturers and farmers may have another; regulatory agencies may reflect yet another point of view.
In the interest of achieving the highest quotient of truth possible, journalists have to consider whether everybody might be right at the same time. In my example, the guy from Dow was right -- theres nothing wrong with helping hungry people get food. The environmentalists are right -- pesticides harm the environment. And the regulators that push for more sustainable methods of agricultural production are right about what's best for the long term.
Maybe that is one of the keys to good journalism, or an honest inquiry of any type. Maybe we should always be searching for the ways everybody can be right in one way or another. Maybe then we will get to the Venn diagram of the matter.
Of course, inevitably, this approach has its limits. We have to make choices. Some things are incontravertibly right or wrong.
Morality trumps the profit motive when it comes to sustaining life on earth.
***
Here are the overlapping circles of today's news:
* Biden’s Pentagon Pick Reignites Debate Over Civilian Control of Military -- Congress would need to approve a waiver for Lloyd J. Austin III, a recently retired general, to serve in the civilian post, four years after President Trump’s first defense secretary received one. (NYT)
* White House proposes dramatically lower unemployment benefit in exchange for $600 stimulus payment (WashPo)
* Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) lambasted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) over his refusal to support bipartisan stimulus legislation this week, accusing the powerful GOP lawmaker of working behind the scenes to protect corporations rather than Americans in need of financial support. Congress has renewed talks with the White House this week over a new stimulus package as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. [HuffPost]
* DoorDash set to blow past IPO price in blockbuster debut (Reuters)
* Dozens of states and the federal government sued Facebook on Wednesday in twin antitrust lawsuits, alleging that the social media giant has abused its dominance in the digital marketplace and engaged in anticompetitive behavior. The Federal Trade Commission, in particular, is seeking a permanent injunction in federal court that could, among other things, require the company to divest assets, including Instagram and WhatsApp, effectively breaking up Facebook as we know it. (CNN)
* U.S. Leaves Behind Afghan Bases — and a Legacy of Land Disputes -- The U.S.-led coalition seized land for hundreds of military bases, most now held by the Afghan military. Villagers have fought for years to collect compensation and to get their property back. (NYT)
* China’s Sinopharm wins approval for coronavirus vaccine in United Arab Emirates (WashPo)
* In mid-March, with the American economy in free fall, Jeffrey Sprecher, husband of Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) and chair of the company that owns the New York Stock Exchange, started buying. Loeffler was one of several senators who faced public outrage for initially unloading millions of dollars in stock before most Americans understood the towering threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic. Then shortly before the CARES Act (the $2 trillion emergency stimulus package) was introduced in the Senate, her husband reversed course and purchased up to $1 million in new shares. [HuffPost]
*
S&P 500, Dow hit all-time highs on stimulus, vaccine hopes
(Reuters)
* Airbnb’s IPO Warning: Unhappy Neighbors Are Fighting Back -- The company, scheduled to list its shares Thursday, has warned its success depends on managing unfavorable local laws in the face of angry neighbors. (WSJ)
* Latin America Is Facing A Hunger Pandemic (NPR)
* House Passes Defense Bill Overwhelmingly, Defying Trump’s Veto Threat -- The $741 billion measure passed with a veto-proof majority, setting up a potential showdown with President Trump in the final weeks of his term. (NYT)
*State, federal authorities expected to file antitrust lawsuits against Facebook (WashPo)
* A little-known paid leave program established by Congress as part of the second stimulus package passed in March is set to expire at the end of December. Under the program, employees can take two weeks of sick leave fully paid up to a maximum amount, or up to 12 weeks off (including 10 weeks paid at two-thirds of their salary) to care for kids who aren’t able to go to school. Business owners are reimbursed via a tax credit. [HuffPost]
* U.S. virus deaths hit record levels with the holidays ahead (AP)
* Hunter Biden, the son of President-elect Joe Biden, said that his taxes are under investigation by the U.S. attorney's office (WSJ)
* As Trump Rails Against Loss, His Supporters Become More Threatening -- The president’s baseless claims of voting fraud have prompted outrage among his loyalists and led to behavior that Democrats and even some Republicans say has become dangerous. (NYT)
* NY Attorney General Letitia James Makes Stunning Prediction on The View: Trump Will ‘Step Down’ So Pence Can Pardon Him (MediaIte)
* Poll: Just A Quarter Of Republicans Accept Election Outcome (NPR)
* Giant iceberg on course to collide with south Atlantic penguin colony island (Reuters)
* Aspiring Lobbyist Gets Foot In Door As State Senator (The Onion)
***
It's a restless hungry feeling
That don't mean no one no good
When ev'rything I'm a-sayin'
You can say it just as good
You're right from your side
I'm right from mine
We're both just one too many mornings
An' a thousand miles behind
-- Bob Dylan (One Too Many Mornings)
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