Media: Does it shape or reflect reality?

Last semester when I was completing my minor in communications, two of my communication classes brought up an interesting topic ; does the media shape or reflect reality. At first, I thought it was a what came first chicken or the egg situation where it was nearly impossible to say it could happen one way or the other. However, as I watch the news coverage of the presidential campaigns, I have have realized that the media has lost its objectivity and instead of reflecting what happens in the campaigns and the debates, they openly try to shape reality to make their favorite candidate seem favorable despite what anyone else or his records have to say. Even worse, some networks such as MSNBC have reached the point where they are dealing in absolutes; if you are not for our candidate then you must be a racist. Choosing candidates by these emotional appeals is no way to choose candidates.

Fiscal responsibility

Since the housing issue has made its way to the debates, I thought that the is topic would be worth discussing. People are demanding that the government bail them out of their housing loans because they cannot make their payments. My question is why? Obviously these people bought houses that they had no business buying in the first place and now they want my tax dollars to cover their greedy ambitions. People need to learn fiscal responsibility and buy housing they could actually afford and take out reasonable loans. I agree that the prices of housing is ridiculous (we have the dual income family to thank for that), but people must realize that most of us are not destined to live in million houses, its just a fact of life. I once heard a story about a couple who made 90k a year between the two of them and they complained they could not buy a million dollar home. Talk about a news flash! What is really bugging me is that certain candidates are promising people to not only reduce the interest rates on their monthly payments, but to somehow lower the principal as well. Yes, lets encourage people to buy housing that is beyond an amount they afford, no wonder we are in this predicament! This is one of the most backwards government proposals I have ever heard. Lets reward the irresponsible and screw over the responsible by making the responsible pay for their mistakes. They made their beds, now they should deal with it. I have no allusions of grandeur , when I am ready to get my own place, I will probably not have the luxury of having a dual income , so I will buy a used home in the 200k price range. It would be good enough as a stater home, would not take as long to pay off, and would be affordable(one must also save for retirement and other miscellaneous expenses).