Red-Ink America

"If life, government, and media were fair--if government policy and media coverage were driven by principles rather than publicity--then the lone farmer above would have the same rights to help as the millions driven out by Katrina. Of course, there are added issues caused by this catastrophe: A region's infrastructure--its roads, schools, utilities, services-- were also disrupted or destroyed.

"So take another charged example: 9/11. If the families of the heroes and victims of that day had a right to receive recompense from government and charity for their loss--and who will argue with that?--then, it has been asked, why don't the families of the soldiers killed by terrorists in Iraq or the innocents killed in Oklahoma City or for that matter the doctors killed by anti-abortion terrorists?

"But this isn't about principle. It is about numbers. We pay attention to big numbers. And whose fault is that? Media's, first and foremost."

The same question comes up when a few soldiers are killed in Iraq: how many is enough to warrant a sizable story? Even though every death is obviously a tragedy.

Here's the chilling journalism story of the day, from the New York Times:

"An Iraqi journalist and photographer working for The New York Times in Basra was found dead early this morning in Basra after being abducted from his home by a group of armed men wearing masks and claiming to be police officers, relatives said."

Finally, here's one way to hold down the federal deficit:

"Oprah Winfrey, who broadcast two shows from the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast region, yesterday pledged $10 million to the victims of Hurricane Katrina," says the New York Post.

"TV's richest star made her announcement on yesterday's 'Oprah Winfrey Show'--the debut episode of her 20th season."