"trying to stay abreast of current events is..." is largely an unpaid civic duty not included in GDP or GNP. That duty, like the raising and socialization of children, is crucial to the survival of a democratic society, but is an externality from the point of view of Classical or Neo-Classical Economics. But then business is the staunchest bastion of autocratic rule in our society and is often defended on grounds of economic efficiency, regardless of the facts and business has often enough been quite happy in the embrace of authoritarians and fascists.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."