Headline Dismay Minimization, by Bryan Caplan

Evaluate this simple cynical theory of what almost every politically aware person really wants: Minimizing the negative emotions they personally experience when they read/see/hear top news stories.  In other words, the politically aware strongly care about even objectively minor problems that get a lot of coverage, but barely care about even objectively major problems that get little coverage.  And almost all their political efforts - voting, arguing, slacktivism - revolve around their ill-considered emotions.

Public obsession with terrorism but apathy about the global murder rate (over 1000 per day) is a prime example of what I have in mind.  Hideous headlines call for drastic action, but vastly greater evils the media ignores aren't worth worrying about.

Please show your work.

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