have we learned anything from balloon boy?

The whole "balloon boy" dramedy that's been played out in the last four days or so proves a point - that the average American attention span is corrolated to the resemblance to a tv movie-of-the-week plot. The fact that this nutcase of a family was not only on a reality show, but voted back by public demand, tells you we like to watch the crazee on the teevee. From Paris Hilton to "The Hills" to Sarah Palin, loons will amplify their looniness to become a pastiche to be sold to the masses, while the important issues of the day like health care reform and the war in Afghanistan are too nuanced and complicated to be able to chop up into a five minute spot.

It's a shame, but I feel news has finally morphed into total entertainment.

(end rant)