Here is the scenario. There are five people on a street corner, proclaiming loudly that the sky is indeed falling. TV news cameras are there. It is an amusing segment, but phone calls inquiring about the phenomenon are received by the media, the police and the mayor.

Two weeks later, there are 27 people on the same corner, and one is an aggressive spokeswoman for the group. She has personally ascertained and can prove that the sky is falling. TV news covers the event again.

Now phone calls are pouring in. People are studying the sky. On the evening news, a large and noisy group is seen in the park. The spokeswoman is demanding action. She claims aircraft are the cause of the perceived disaster.

Perceived is the key word.

The moral of this tale is: Beware the power of television. Common sense is being replaced by public perception, which is disseminated by the media.

The material may be inaccurate. But it will be presented as the truth and will be accepted. Public perception believes what is clearly false. Common sense cannot prevail.

This is what happened to the casino proposition. It was a promising business venture, and no deception was involved. The deception came from the opposition, with incredible lies and innuendo. Backed by big money and politicians, they would say anything, and no investigative reporter questioned it.

Altogether this was a disgusting, sleazy demonstration of the power, not only of television, but of politicians.

Guy Campbell, Norway