Having begun my professional writing career as a journalist in the mid-80s — back when we were actually respected as objective messengers of factual information the public needed to know — I’ve watched with dismay the steady bludgeoning of this once-noble profession over the past couple of decades.

Most often this pummeling has occurred at the hands of conservative commentators, aspiring politicians and other ideologues who have no historic appreciation for the vital role of a truly independent, objective media in a free society — and who think nothing of slandering this institution to further their own personal climb toward power and fame. During this same time, not coincidentally, we’ve also seen the ascent of right-wing opportunists masquerading as “journalists”.

If you’re puzzled over Republicans’ apparent inability to offer timely, creative and effective solutions to help dig America out of this economic black hole — one into which their own failed policies have sucked us lightyears from where we began — you’re not alone. Fresh ideas nowhere to be found, GOP leaders still seem pre-programmed to try bamboozling the citizens of this land using the very same stale gimmicks — more tax cuts for corporations and the affluent — that helped get us into this mess.