A Washington Post article that is ostensibly on Ireland's budget problems begins: "Is this the ghost of America's future?" This no doubt had readers asking "is this the way to begin a news story on Ireland?" On the other hand, since the headline is "in Ireland's deep budget cuts, an omen for a heavily indebted United States?" we were already warned not to expect a serious news story.
The Post really really wants to reduce the deficits and it wants to do so primarily by slashing Social Security and Medicare benefits. It has shown repeatedly that it is prepared to ignore accepted journalistic standards to push this cause. This is just one more instance.
Unlike many news organizations, the Prospect has remained staunchly committed to keeping our journalism free and accessible to all. We believe that independent journalism is crucial for a functioning democracy—but quality reporting comes at a cost.
This year, we’re aiming to raise $75,000 to continue delivering the hard-hitting investigative journalism you’ve come to expect from us. Your support helps us maintain our independence and dig deeper into the stories that matter most.
If you value our reporting, please consider making a contribution today. Any amount helps secure our future and ensure we can continue holding power to account.
