--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Turn off your televisions. Ignore the…" description: "\"Turn off your televisions. Ignore the Newt-Mitt-Rick- Barack reality show. It is as relevant to your life as the gossip on “Jersey Shore.” The real deb..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f41/chris-hedges-2131_barack_turn-off-your-televisions-ignore-the-new_1975372.png" --- # Turn off your televisions. Ignore the Newt-Mitt-Rick… ![“Turn off your televisions. Ignore the Newt-Mitt-Rick- Barack reality show. It is as relevant to your life as the gossip on “Jersey Shore.” The real debate, the debate raised by the Occupy movement about inequality, corporate malfeasance, the destruction of the ecosystem, and the security and…” quote by Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f41/chris-hedges-2131_barack_turn-off-your-televisions-ignore-the-new_1975372.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f41/chris-hedges-2131_barack_turn-off-your-televisions-ignore-the-new_1975372.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f41/chris-hedges-2131_barack_turn-off-your-televisions-ignore-the-new_1975372.png) > “Turn off your televisions. Ignore the Newt-Mitt-Rick- Barack reality show. It is as relevant to your life as the gossip on “Jersey Shore.” The real debate, the debate raised by the Occupy movement about inequality, corporate malfeasance, the destruction of the ecosystem, and the security and surveillance state, is the only debate that matters.” [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mainstream media distracts; vital issues like inequality and surveillance are ignored. **In simple terms:** Media distracts from real problems. Key Takeaway Seek truth beyond entertainment. Themes media criticism social justice environment surveillance Mood critical urgent Type activist inspirational When to use this quote - political engagement - media consumption - community organizing Key Concepts activism critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What sources inform your view of reality? - How can you act on ignored issues? A Different Perspective Distraction can be hard to overcome without alternatives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corporate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporate/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Ecosystems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ecosystems/) [Gossip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gossip/) [Inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality/) [Malfeasance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malfeasance/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Occupy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupy/) [Occupy movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupy-movement/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-show/) [Reality shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-shows/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Surveillance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surveillance/) [Surveillance state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surveillance-state/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [Just as the sharpening of iron is produced by tension, collision and heat, enduring ideas are created through intense debate and informed dialogue. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-johnson/just-as-the-sharpening-of-iron-is-produced-by-tension-collision-and/) [Mike Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-johnson/) > [The sad reality is that all the well-meaning groups and individuals who challenge our permanent war economy and the doctrine of preemptive war, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/the-sad-reality-is-that-all-the-well-meaning-groups-and-individuals/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [The imperial projects will continue, Wall Street will be unimpeded in its malfeasance and criminal activity, social programs will continue to be cut, maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/the-imperial-projects-will-continue-wall-street-will-be-unimpeded-in/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [I think it's a real debate how big NATO should be and whether or not it's more provocative than good. Whenever there's a war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-it-s-a-real-debate-how-big-nato-should-be-and-whether-or-not/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [“people today find real debate about actual topics difficult, and much prefer the parody of debate which consists of giving a dog a bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/people-today-find-real-debate-about-actual-topics-difficult-and-much/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [Our climate is changing. That's a fact, and we need to have a real debate about how we should respond to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-lamb/our-climate-is-changing-that-s-a-fact-and-we-need-to-have-a-real/) [Conor Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-lamb/) > [No matter how you cut it, this real debate on personal accounts is about the legitimacy of Social Security; it's not about the solvency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/no-matter-how-you-cut-it-this-real-debate-on-personal-accounts-is/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Next let go of your hate or malfeasance of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-vickers/next-let-go-of-your-hate-or-malfeasance-of-all-others/) [Lee Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-vickers/) > [The ethical rule is from Samuel Johnson who believed that maintenance of easily removable ignorance by a responsible office holder was treacherous malfeasance in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/the-ethical-rule-is-from-samuel-johnson-who-believed-that-maintenance/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [I absolutely reject that idea that the press is liberal and what it does is liberal. In my view, it's like accusing a doctor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-absolutely-reject-that-idea-that-the-press-is-liberal-and-what-it/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [I have a suggestion that I think would help fight serious crime. Signs. There are lots of signs for minor infractions: No Smoking, Stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-have-a-suggestion-that-i-think-would-help-fight-serious-crime-signs/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [But, if recent history has taught us anything, it’s that self-regulation doesn’t work in finance, and that worries about reputation are a weak deterrent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/but-if-recent-history-has-taught-us-anything-it-s-that-self/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [... Any pension fund manager who doesn't have the vast majority-and I mean 70% or 80% of his or her portfolio-in passive investments is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merton-miller/any-pension-fund-manager-who-doesn-t-have-the-vast-majority-and-i/) [Merton Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merton-miller/) > [A fundamental premise of American democratic theory is that government exists to serve the people. ... Public records are one portal through which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/a-fundamental-premise-of-american-democratic-theory-is-that/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [What matters to us is the revelation of the swindle, fraud, or defalcation. This makes known to the world that things have not been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-p-kindleberger/what-matters-to-us-is-the-revelation-of-the-swindle-fraud-or/) [Charles P. Kindleberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-p-kindleberger/) ## More by Chris Hedges > [“the property that grounded the self in Romanticism was sincerity, and in modernism was authenticity, then in postmod ernism it is visibility.10”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/the-property-that-grounded-the-self-in-romanticism-was-sincerity-and/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [“Revolutionists who took part in uprisings in one part of the globe would often migrate to take part in uprisings in another. Francisco de…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/revolutionists-who-took-part-in-uprisings-in-one-part-of-the-globe/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [“Those captivated by the cult of celebrity do not examine voting records or compare verbal claims with written and published facts and reports. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/those-captivated-by-the-cult-of-celebrity-do-not-examine-voting/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [Positive psychology is to the corporate state what eugenics was to the Nazis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/positive-psychology-is-to-the-corporate-state-what-eugenics-was-to/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [“Hope has a cost. Hope is not comfortable or easy. Hope requires personal risk. It is not about the right attitude. Hope is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/hope-has-a-cost-hope-is-not-comfortable-or-easy-hope-requires/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [This too is a jihad. Yet we Americans find ourselves in the dangerous position of going to war not against a state but against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/this-too-is-a-jihad-yet-we-americans-find-ourselves-in-the-dangerous/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [Human beings can be redeemed. Empires cannot. Our refusal to face the truth about empire, our refusal to defy the multitudinous crimes and atrocities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/human-beings-can-be-redeemed-empires-cannot-our-refusal-to-face-the/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [I have seen children shot in El Salvador, Algeria, Guatemala, Sarajevo, but I have never before watched soldiers entice children like mice into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/i-have-seen-children-shot-in-el-salvador-algeria-guatemala-sarajevo/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [A democracy survives when its citizens have access to trustworthy and impartial sources of information, when it can discern lies from truth. Take this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/a-democracy-survives-when-its-citizens-have-access-to-trustworthy-and/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [It is the cult of self that is killing the United States. This cult has within it the classic traits of psychopaths: superficial charm,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/it-is-the-cult-of-self-that-is-killing-the-united-states-this-cult/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [“Our march toward self-annihilation has already obliterated ninety percent of the large fish in the oceans and wiped out half of the mature tropical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/our-march-toward-self-annihilation-has-already-obliterated-ninety/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [No real journalist makes $5 million a year... Those in power fear and dislike real journalists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/no-real-journalist-makes-5-million-a-year-those-in-power-fear-and/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [“Just remember,' a Marine Corps lieutenant colonel told me as he strapped his pistol belt under his arm before we crossed into Kuwait, 'that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/just-remember-a-marine-corps-lieutenant-colonel-told-me-as-he/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [Most of these who are thrust into combat soon find it impossible to maintain the mythic perception of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/most-of-these-who-are-thrust-into-combat-soon-find-it-impossible-to/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [The imperial projects will continue, Wall Street will be unimpeded in its malfeasance and criminal activity, social programs will continue to be cut, maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/the-imperial-projects-will-continue-wall-street-will-be-unimpeded-in/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) [Explore all 183 Chris Hedges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) ## More Barack quotes > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I can tell you who's planning terroris attacks. The leaders of ISIL. And I can tell you where they're at. They're in Raqqa, Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-tell-you-who-s-planning-terroris-attacks-the-leaders-of-isil/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [ The president \[Barack Obama\] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-commitment-of-i-think-100-000/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [The big story today, Barack Obama was accused of insulting Sarah Palin when he criticized Republican policies by saying, you can put lipstick on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/the-big-story-today-barack-obama-was-accused-of-insulting-sarah-palin/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [ I think the president's \[Barack Obama\] position has been very clear on Syria. He wants more aggressive, he's put the Special Ops on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-position-has-been-very-clear-on/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [ It cannot be an American fight. And I think what the president \[Barack Obama\] has consistently said - which I agree with - is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-cannot-be-an-american-fight-and-i-think-what-the-president-barack/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [It doesn't matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it's his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-where-barack-obama-goes-if-he-wants-to-go-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ It wasn't \[Barack\] Obama per se; it was the feeling on the ground; it was seeing an old black woman in a wheelchair being… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the-feeling-on-the-ground-it-was/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [I don't think that we really know a whole lot about Barack Obama at all that you would really call distinctive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-mcwhorter/i-don-t-think-that-we-really-know-a-whole-lot-about-barack-obama-at/) [John H. McWhorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-mcwhorter/) > [Just like Barack Obama, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and now I am a reluctant groom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/just-like-barack-obama-my-views-on-gay-marriage-have-evolved-and-now/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [I think President Barack Obama has been an extraordinarily successful president, and that this period will record that with a bunch of exclamation points.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-think-president-barack-obama-has-been-an-extraordinarily-successful/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) Michael Atherton > [In public, Barack Obama's giving the simple version of his beliefs for the mass public. In private, he can discuss it at a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/in-public-barack-obama-s-giving-the-simple-version-of-his-beliefs-for/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) Browse all 1,672 Barack quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Turn off your televisions. Ignore the Newt-Mitt-Rick- Barack reality show. 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