"newspapers in particular are in a lot of financial trouble these days, and so are fanning the flames of discontent"

This is true. Newspapers such as The Australian adopt an ideology because bias sells to the converts on one hand, and the self-righteously indignant on the other.

Either way you feel good about yourself, whereas balanced commentary on almost any topic tends to be disquietingly problematic.

However, "working in industry as I do", I think any sort of political engagement is preferable to the total indifference that characterises my workplaces.