The influence of the media on how the public percieves government (with a ((hopefully)) brief off-topic intermission)

Most of us are not Senators or Governors or State Representatives or other kinds of people that know the inner workings of what's going on in the government. What we know about the government comes from the media. Now, this isn't bad, really, if you listen to many sources. But by only listening or watching media influenced by one side or the other, we essentially allow others to think for us. Many news stations, left, right or any side, does tend to state opinion as fact. If we only recognise one source, we essentially brainwash ourselves.
(Intermission:
You've probably all heard of the Twilight series, what with that new movie coming out. I read it, I liked it for a bit until I saw it for what it really was behind the hype. If you are a Twilight fan and unwilling to listen to reason coming from a viewpoint opposite yours, I suggest you move on to a different blog, because I'm going to bash the living daylights out of it. Twilight, for those of you who don't know, is a SERIES (not a saga. DEAR LORD IT'S ANYTHING BUT A SAGA) about a girl named Bella who falls in love (*coughmindlessobsessioncough*) with a "vampire" named Edward. He sparkles. He doesn't burn. No. Just no. If you're going to call it a vampire, show respect for vampire lore and not make it something that more resembles a blood-drinking FAIRY without wings than a vampire. VAMPIRES BURN IN THE SUNLIGHT. Furthermore, they do not fall in love with humans. That's like a guy falling in love with a cheeseburger. IT MAKES NO SENSE. Edwart-ahem- I mean Edward, breaks into her room at night and watches Bella, who is by the way nearly a century younger than him, sleep. Does anyone else sense blatant criminal-level stalking and pedophilia going on here? I sure hope so. This is supposed to be ROMANTIC?! If I saw someone in my room watching me sleep I'd mace that sick SOB. Bella has no aspirations or hobbies other than being with her precious Edward, even before he is introduced to the story. Her only discernable flaw is clumsiness, which only serves to have her saved from every little perceived danger like the perfect little damsel in distress, who spends all her spare time cooking and cleaning for her father. At least, that's what is stated in the story. One will see that she is also whiny, selfish, disobediant and lazy, even though she is presented as a role model. The plot is nonexistant other than: Girl meets boy, boy is a vampire, boy and girl get married, have a baby, happily ever after yay. The only conflict in the story is introduced and resolved in two chapters, and promptly goes back to describing how pretty and sparkly Edward is every four pages. I'm done now. Sorry it wasn't breif.)
The media is also dumbed down, barely concentrating on government at all, but talking about which celebrity is with who, how SHOCKINGLY TERRIBLE it is that that celebrity gained five pounds and is now only twenty pounds underweight, spending THREE MONTHS talking about the death of a musician nobody has listened to for twenty years, the movie premiere of an extremely overrated book, SCANDALOUS websites created by people who just want attention, and so on. If you want political news, stop watching if they're talking about fads or celebrities and whatnot, just stick to the newspaper.
Yes, this was an overglorified rant. That's what most blogs are.