Today, as we all know, politics is suffering a steroid-like addiction to money, which emboldens and empowers politics to put it's foot in the 'doors of perception' - the media, which shapes public opinion. That's the job of politics - to influence the minds of voters, and the mass media has become willing accomplices.
Classic example - Donna Brazille, the DNC chairman, and CNN commentator, giving pre-debate questions to Hillary according to Wikileaks.
Journalists depend on politicians for news, the inside scoop, and politicians only allow those journalists into the halls of power that present the "correct" narrative.
A toxic co-dependent relationship has developed between the media and status quo power, which together, led the country into the disastrously criminal Iraq war.
Thanks, Brett, for tackling this problem on a local level.