Bill Sykes' Newsletter from America.
(December 2002)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
The role played by the American media.
American television has become the biggest propaganda
machine the world has ever known.
Candidates for public office are spending multi-millions
of dollars, (mostly on television adverts), in order to
be elected to an office which provides the not too substantial
salary, (by today’s standards, when compared with
the salaries of Chief Executive Officers, star athletes,
film stars, TV sitcom actors, etc ), of $150,000 per annum,
(plus perks of course - and what magnificent perks are
available).
 I
am given to understand that Senators and Representatives
decided some years ago that Social Security was not for
them and voted in their own plan, which gives them very
substantial lucrative pension benefits at retirement,
(without paying any financial contributions), and they
continue to draw the same pay as they did when they were
active members of Congress from date of retirement until
they become deceased.
This disparity between "them" and "us"
makes the Social Security benefits obtained by we the
people which on the average amounts to a little more than
$1000/$1250 per month, (after they have paid maximum contributions
into the system for thirty years or more), miniscule in
comparison to what the members of Congress receive.
As I do not have full details currently of the congressional
benefits program and have to verify the accuracy, I think
that I should investigate further and report back on my
findings in a later issue. This is not equality this is
downright manipulation of public funding. Why would anyone
want to be elected to Government office?
Now there’s a question which is complicated, unless
one looks at the power aspects.
 Of
course the perks appear to be a big incentive, but there
are other things, such as the power to control people,
the power to involve people in an unwanted war, the power
to make decisions involving the authorization and spending
of enormous sums of money on programs which are beneficial
to contributing companies and corporations.
These companies/corporations contribute funds to candidates
with what may be considered the prime purpose of supporting
the candidate of their choice to become elected to office.
One cannot say that the United States media is unbiased
- but there again where in the world can one say that
the media presents unbiased opinions?
We welcome feedback about any of the contents of these
newsletters. Please send all correspondence to bill_sykes@huddersfield1.co.uk
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