- MICHAEL PARENTI’S VIEWS REGARDING MEDIA IN USA
Michael Parenti is an American political scientist, historian and cultural critic, who write on scholarly and popular subjects. With respect to US media, Parenti claims that though media maybe spoilt and made difficult by deadlines, space and human error, much of the misleading coverage is the result of ideological productions. He says that researchers practice a lot to avoid the most important details of a story or news, so that no offense is intended on people who have political and economic powers. Their goal is to avoid fishing deep into the dirty waters, thereby managing a picture of objectivity and moderation. Parenti’s treatment for entertainment media is the argument that entertainment media is not neutral, but as per the interest of elite people. He often attacks on specific examples of misleading coverages provided by U.S. media. In one of his articles “Media Moments” published in Z Magazine, Dec 2002, Michael Parenti points out how media reporters skirt around the important points of a story. He recalls one media moment which he experienced while listening to BBC news. It was a special report on asthma, where BBC reporter asked some confrontational questions and brought an edge to the segment. At this point, Parenti mentions that media apologists like to make excuses about how the journalists face severe constraints of time and space, the demand of reducing complex issues into brief and effective reports, and therefore the issues are conflated and some overseeing of points is inevitable. He also says that there would have been ample oppurtunities to mention the true reasons for increasing rate of asthma, but mainstream media bosses would dismiss such revelations as “editorializing” and ideologically motivated. Parenti called the report to be “objective” and “balanced” by blaming the victims, genetic predispositions, antiseptic lifestyle and their inability to buy medications. In another article, “Monopoly Media Manipulation”, Parenti expresses that in a capitalist “democracy” like United States; corporate news media faithfully reflects the dominant class ideology both in their reports and in comments, but still creates an image that the media is free and independent, capable of balanced coverage and objective commentary. In Parenti’s article “The Media and Their Atrocities”, he has slammed the media as lapdog of national security. He is concerned that media helps in reversing the roles of victims and victimizers, warmongers and peacekeepers, reactionaries and reformers. The media is making evidences of social atrocities, unavailable or irrelevant thereby affecting the country’s national security.
- RUPERT MURDOCH’S MEDIA EMPIRE AND IMPACT ON NEWS PRESENTED IN USA
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian American business magnate. Murdoch became the Managing Director of Australia’s News Limited, succeeding his father in 1952. Rupert Murdoch is also the founder, Chairman and CEO of global media holding company News Corporation, News Corp and 21st Century Fox. The News International phone-hacking scandal- otherwise called as “Hackgate” or “Murdochgate” or “Rupertgate” by the press, is a controversy involving the British Newspapers and the then News Corporation. Employees were accused of engaging in phone hacking, bribing the police and using illegal influences in the intention of publishing stories. Investigations showed that the paper’s phone hacking activities were done only with celebrities, politicians and members of the British Royal Family. In July 2011, investigations revealed that phones of murdered schoolgirl, relatives of deceased British soldiers, 7/7 London Bombings were also accessed which raised a public outcry against News Corporation and Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch has done a lot more damage than those revealed in the scandal investigations.
Transformed World Politics for the Worse: George W. Bush’s first cousin, Ellis, working as head of Murdoch’s Fox News election night “decision desk”, who, during Florida voting uncertainties called election for Bush and thereby started a chain reaction from other media.
Undermined Liberty: His outlets led for restriction or elimination of certain fundamental rights, including those under US Fourth Amendment, and at same time supporting unrestrained wiretapping, encouraging harsh treatment of suspects who may not have done anything wrong and fuelling panic justifying build-up of national surveillance state.
Turned public against press: Murdoch has almost eroded the trust of public in media. He has used his outlets to convince public that other news organizations are suspect and biased.
Simultaneously propagandized for “the law” and compromised it: Murdoch has routinely assailed the patriotism of those who question for civil and privacy rights. But was accused of compromising law enforcement establishment in the unfolded UK drama.
Undermined essential rules of propriety in the news business: Murdoch has used his propriety to advance his personal interests and made cross-promotion of his trademark.
Propagandized society’s worst instincts: Fox News and the New York Post were most popular in the United States to stand out front for supporting racism and greed.Effectively neutralized many would-be critics in journalism: Murdoch has effectively walked out many efficient journalists and critiques by speaking out about his practices, making them risk their jobs or prospects of future employment. He has dumbed down the news business and public.
- ADAM MORDECAI’S ANALYSIS OF INCOME INEQUALITY IN USA
“ 9 Out Of 10 Americans Are Completely Wrong About This Mind-Blowing Fact” is a video created by Adam Mordecai and based on the research by Harvard professor Michael I. Norton, who found that 9 out of 10 people taking his survey universally thought that wealth is more evenly distributed in the United States than it actually is. The United States population is divided into 5 groups: top 20%, bottom 20%, middle class is sub grouped as second, third and fourth classes 20% each. He starts with the inference of a survey in which 92% i.e., 9 out of 10 respondents said that the wealthiest people would be 10-20 times better than the poorest Americans, middle class would be booming and healthy, smoothly transitioning into wealth and the poverty line will be off the charts. Republicans and Democrats called it to be an ideal distribution. When the survey participants were asked what they think would be the situation compared to ideal situation, most of them replied that 20-30 % of the poorest are beginning to suffer, middle class is slightly suffering and the wealthiest are making 100 times what the poor make and 10 times what middle class people make.
But the reality is not even close to what the people think is real. As seen in the chart, the poorest Americans don’t even register on the chart. They hardly have only pocket penny. Middle class is virtually indistinguishable from the poor. Even the top 10-20% is suffering. Only those at the very top are doing considerably better. Top 2-5% is also literally off the chart. Top 1% own 10 times more than what the chart can allow. Which means nearly 40% of America is owned by the top 1% and bottom 80% owns only 7% of the country’s wealth. Top 1% of the earners take home quarter of their income. They own 50% of the country’s stocks, while the bottom 50% owns only 0.5% of the stocks. The bottom 50% is not investing, but they are just scraping off the ground. This huge gap of wealth distribution is considered very risky by majority of them.
Adam Mordecai concludes with a fact that a CEO is working almost 384 times harder than an average employee of the company. Average employees must work hard for more than a month to make what the CEO makes in an hour. He ends telling that we don’t even have to achieve what most of us think is ideal. We just need to wake up and realize that reality in this country is not what we think it is.
- INDEPENDENT REGULATORY COMMISSION/BOARD OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
Independent Regulatory Commission/Board (IRC/B) is entities like Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). They are formed and accorded power by the Congress to regulate a specific industry. Within the authority granted to them by the Congress, they have the power to form and enforce their own regulations. IRC has a unique place in the federal government. They function independently from the three branches of the government. The President recruits the members of IRC with Senate approval. There are hundreds of federal agencies and commissions charged with handling responsibilities such as America’s space program, protecting its forests and gathering intelligence. Examples of IRC are Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Reserve Board (FRB), etc.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates internal and external communications by radio, television, satellites and cable in all the states of United States, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. It acts as the United States’ primary authority for communication law, regulation and technological innovation. FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, spectrum, media, public security and homeland security. FCC is organized into seven bureau and ten staff offices. In general, the office handles license applications as well as analyzing complaints, developing and implementing regulations, performing investigations and taking part in hearings. The seven bureaus are:
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB): Oversees consumer policies, responds to consumer queries and complaints.
Enforcement Bureau (EB): Responsible for enforcing communication act of 1934, as well as FCC rules, condition, terms and orders of station authorizations.
International Bureau (IB): Helps to develop on international telecommunication policy.
Media Bureau (MB): Develops and implements policy programs relating to electronic media.
Wireless Telecommunication Bureau (WTB): Responsible for all FCC wireless telecommunication programs, policies and outreach programs.
Wire line Competition Bureau (WCB): Assists in policy development for wireless telecommunications.
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau: Develops and implements communications for use during emergencies and crises.
- IMPORTANT UNITS WITHIN EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
The Executive Office of the President is a loosely-grouped collection of offices and organizations. It includes three major policymaking bodies namely
- The National Security Council (NSC)
- The Council of Economic Advisors (CEA)
- The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
The National Security Council (NSC):
The National Security Council (NSC) serves the President’s inner circle of advisors who consult on matters of national security. National security is the defense of the United States, protection of the constitutional system of government, the advancement of United States interests around the globe. NSC is the President’s principal forum for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials. The primary responsibilities of NSC are to assist and advice the President regarding national security and foreign policies, and it serves as President’s principal arm in co-ordinating these policies among various government agencies. The NSA and NSC have been at the center of many controversial politics, including the decision of President George W. Bush to invade Iraq in 2003. Some of their other functions are:
6. ADVANTAGES OF INCUMBENCY
Incumbency refers to the time one is in office. It is mostly used in the political field. Incumbency has several advantages.
- An incumbent is generally exposed to print and electronic media in a way that, in case of an election, he/she will already have a priority over the opponent. Incumbents do get re-elected to office.
- Incumbents enjoy a free video coverage on the point of being in office and therefore what they say will have an official government position. In such cases, the opponents will be at loss.
- They will have preferential treatment wherever they go, as they hold some official position. In situation of money allocations for a specific area, incumbents will claim to be the pushers for money allocations, by which they will get additional support which they wouldn’t have received if not for the money allocation.
- Incumbents enjoy a very good recognition compared to their opponents, as they are already in limelight.
- They will be treated with enhanced security at no extra expense. Security will be further enhanced if the incumbent is assigned any other government duty.
- They will have safe seats in a few areas because of their experience and their parties’ control over a district which favor their political party.
- For the success of an incumbent in an election, the party’s hold on district or area must be advantageous to earn seats easily than a non-incumbent.
- The advantage of an incumbent over the primary contender is based upon personal characteristics, experience, their fame and advertising.
- The political parties acting as teams will want the incumbent not to be challenged in primaries because he/she will have an advantage in the general elections.
- DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FUNCTIONING OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of federal government. It consits of two houses: The House of Representatives and The Senate.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
The House of Representatives is made of 435 members elected from all over the country. It is the lower house of the Congress. They are referred to as Congressman and Congresswoman, serve for two years from districts of a specific state and run for re-elections before their term expires. The House is primarily charged with adopting new laws that govern the United States. Most laws start out as bills-documents that go through varying degrees of reviews and changes by lawmakers. Bills are then assigned to a committee that examines what the new law intends to do. If a committee rejects or does not take any action on it, the bill will be, considered ‘dead’ and no further action will be taken. If the bill passes the first committee, then it will pass onto second and third review depending on the subject matter of the bill. Although the House and Senate can both introduce legislation, the authority to initiate tax increase or revenue expenditures lies with the House. Another important function of the House of Representatives is the election of the President. In the event of a tie in Electoral College, members of the House are required to vote and decide the winner of the election. Impeachment of federal officials also begins in the House.
THE SENATE:
The United States Senate is the upper house and legislative chamber of the bicameral legislature. It is made up of 100 members with six-year terms. Here hierarchy is less organized, power is more evenly distributed, emphasize foreign policies, and members are generalists. There will be less committees and sub-committees in the Senate. The Senate has several exclusive powers that are not granted to the House. It includes consenting to treaties, as a precondition to their ratifications or organizing appointments of Cabinet Secretaries, federal judges and other federal uniformed officials. It is deliberative and prestigious than the House because of its smaller size, longer term and statewide constituencies. There are several unique functions for the Senate that forms its ability to “check and balance” the powers of other elements of the federal government. This may include the requirement of Senate to advice and consent to some of President’s government appointments. Senate elects the Vice President in case none of person gets majority of electoral votes.
- CONFERENCE COMMITTEE OF U.S. CONGRESS
A Conference committee is a committee of the Congress elected by the House of Representatives and the Senate to resolve disagreements on a bill. They mostly constitute the elderly members of the standing committee of each House that originally considered the legislation.
THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
The first step in the legislative process is the presentation of a bill to Congress. Anyone can write a bill, but only members of the Congress can introduce legislation. After the bill is introduced, it will be assigned for first review to the appropriate committee. A bill is first put for consideration by a subcommittee where it may be accepted, amended or rejected entirely. If the members of subcommittee agree to move the bill further, it will be reported to all the members of the committee and the process will be repeated again. If the full committee votes to approve the bill, it will be reported to the floor of House or Senate, and majority party leadership will decide when to place the bill for consideration. When the bill comes for consideration, the House has a very structured debate process. Only few minutes will be given for each member and kind of amendments are limited. Whereas in the Senate, debate on most bills is unlimited. A bill must pass both houses of Congress before it goes to the President for consideration. On receiving a bill, President has several options. He may substantially agree to it, which then can be printed in Statues at large. Alternatively, the President may consider the bill to be a bad policy and veto it. In that case, veto maybe override by the Congress with two-third votes of each member and made a law. Two more options are, if Congress is in session and the President takes no action within 10 days, then the bill will become law. If Congress adjourns before 10 days and President does not take action, the bill dies and Congress need not vote to override.
- HOW DOES MEDICAID WORK?
Medicaid is a federal government program to help provide medical aid to certain categories of people who have very low income and possess little or no assets. The Division of Public Assistance according to state and federal rules decides eligibility for Medicaid. The worker will look into the age, income, assets, disability status, and other factors to determine what eligibility may work. Once determined eligible, will be given a unique identification number and Medicaid coupon, which will contain information on removable labels. For most cases, the recipients can choose their own health care provider, but the provider needs to be registered with Medicaid, before it can pay the bills. When services are provided, the recipients stick the label on a special claim form. Some providers accept claims electronically and all drug prescriptions are submitted electronically.
HOW DOES SSI WORK?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is provided to the aged, blind or disabled people who are not considered “insured” by the Federal Government, but needs monetary assistance to meet their minimum monthly expenses. Claimants must meet very specific requirements to avail SSI. Income and resource requirements outlined by the Federal Government should be met.
Limited Income: The recipient should be receiving limited income. It may be earned, unearned, deemed or in-kind income. However, higher the income, lesser will be the SSI benefits.
Limited Resources: One must have limited resources to qualify for receiving SSI. Social Security Administration considers resources as things owned such as land, vehicle, United States’ Savings Bonds, bank account, personal property, life insurance and cash. The current limit is $2000 per individual or $3000 per couple.
- WHY HAS LABOR LOBBY WEAKENED?
Labor unions are type of economic interest groups. They work for the economic benefit of their members and constituency, which mainly includes workers and trade organizations.
Labor unions are regularly out-spent by other sectors when it comes to lobbying the federal government. While the interests within the health and finance sectors have each spent more than $4.6 billion on federal lobbying since 1998, labor unions have spent just 10% of the sum since 1998. Since President Barack Obama took office, labor unions have spent $116 million on lobbying ranking them at or near the bottom of the list among all sectors. Within the labor sector, public sector unions invest more money on federal lobbying.
CRP Research Director Sarah Bryner said it was difficult to pinpoint the reason for drop in lobbying dollars. With the weak economy, an administration that has railed against lobbyists and the possibility that much of the influence peddling has gone underground. But Bryner said that, congressional gridlock maybe a key reason for the decline of lobbying. It is assumed that lobbying has declined much with the reduction in productivity. It is studied that just 47 bills have become laws this year with the reduction in labor lobbying. Manufacturing jobs has reduced in the U.S. and hence is the number of members representing the union. In addition, the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act made it hard to organize by allowing individual states to ban “closed-shops”. In these workplaces, all workers are required to join a union. The reason for downturn of labor lobbying maybe the state economy. Most companies and organizations that try to influence the legislature, are now trying to reduce their expenses and tighten their belt. This effected in the reduction of resources they used for lobbying. In addition, the amount of lobbying by labor-related industries reduced significantly with the wake of 2011 Act 10, which affected unions’ ability to collect dues from most of the public employees.
- WHY HAS LABOR LOBBY WEAKENED?
Labor unions are type of economic interest groups. They work for the economic benefit of their members and constituency, which mainly includes workers and trade organizations.
Labor unions are regularly out-spent by other sectors when it comes to lobbying the federal government. While the interests within the health and finance sectors have each spent more than $4.6 billion on federal lobbying since 1998, labor unions have spent just 10% of the sum since 1998. Since President Barack Obama took office, labor unions have spent $116 million on lobbying ranking them at or near the bottom of the list among all sectors. Within the labor sector, public sector unions invest more money on federal lobbying.
CRP Research Director Sarah Bryner said it was difficult to pinpoint the reason for drop in lobbying dollars. With the weak economy, an administration that has railed against lobbyists and the possibility that much of the influence peddling has gone underground. But Bryner said that, congressional gridlock maybe a key reason for the decline of lobbying. It is assumed that lobbying has declined much with the reduction in productivity. It is studied that just 47 bills have become laws this year with the reduction in labor lobbying. Manufacturing jobs has reduced in the U.S. and hence is the number of members representing the union. In addition, the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act made it hard to organize by allowing individual states to ban “closed-shops”. In these workplaces, all workers are required to join a union. The reason for downturn of labor lobbying maybe the state economy. Most companies and organizations that try to influence the legislature, are now trying to reduce their expenses and tighten their belt. This effected in the reduction of resources they used for lobbying. In addition, the amount of lobbying by labor-related industries reduced significantly with the wake of 2011 Act 10, which affected unions’ ability to collect dues from most of the public employees.
