What you say has a kernel of truth -- we all need to be critical of everything we see and hear -- I think you take it too far.
> The validity of information should be vetted by those consuming it, not an entity who is in any kind of power.
This would not lead to a place that would be good for anybody. Most people don't have the time or skills needed to do this, and telling everyone that they have to fact-check everything for themselves can only result in some combination of two bad outcomes:
1) People will simply accept everything they read that confirms their own preexisting beliefs.
2) People will simply reject everything they read that goes against their own preexisting beliefs.
Both things encourage the continued decline of public debate as well as the continued increase of overall balkanization and the demonization of our neighbors.
Also, both will lead to a dramatically increased amount of lying.
> The validity of information should be vetted by those consuming it, not an entity who is in any kind of power.
This would not lead to a place that would be good for anybody. Most people don't have the time or skills needed to do this, and telling everyone that they have to fact-check everything for themselves can only result in some combination of two bad outcomes:
1) People will simply accept everything they read that confirms their own preexisting beliefs.
2) People will simply reject everything they read that goes against their own preexisting beliefs.
Both things encourage the continued decline of public debate as well as the continued increase of overall balkanization and the demonization of our neighbors.
Also, both will lead to a dramatically increased amount of lying.