Get Your Premium Membership

The state of the fourth estate

No estate should be able to turn away health inspectors, No estate should be able to turn away ambulances, while bleeding internally, No estate should need to employ so many muckrakers, or bush lawyers. No estate should hold so many water rights, if they pour cold water over journalists, who want to investigate, No estate should hold so many gun licenses, until shooting oneself in the foot is no longer endemic, No estate should be given awards for mediocrity, No estate should have license to print money, to pay for influence. No estate should be bereft of microscopes, or access to an eye specialist. No estate should hold so many contracts out of state, to stifle competition, No estate can survive without bread and butter or an understanding that no freedom is absolute. No estate can survive when it no longer sees the need to spellcheck, and uses words covered in sauces past their use by date, No society can survive when it has a fourth estate, that no longer pays heed to the edicts of, Walter Cronkite or his ilk.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2023




Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 12/7/2023 5:55:00 PM
Another creative form of poetry, my friend. Your points are well made, and I especially like the reference to Walter Cronkite. Have a nice week, writing away the day. Bill
Login to Reply
Smith Avatar
David Smith
Date: 12/7/2023 7:48:00 PM
Yes indeed Walter and his famous quote on freedom of the press should be enshrined for all times. Interestingly I read an American piece that correlated the voter turnout with the number of local news outlets. The writer had numbers to back that up. More local news outlets Bigger voter turnout. Some logic there I think. It is my personal belief that strong communities solve problems where Central Government never will, and at the heart of a strong community is an independent thriving local newspaper or news station, and preferably both. Take care David

Book: Shattered Sighs