News is the source that most people use to get information on the current happenings. Therefore, it is expected that anything that does not make it to the news is irrelevant to the nation. However, there are many issues that never get any attention. This is because they never appear in the news. Reason for this could be that the media has no access to them. However, there is news that the media turns a blind eye to purposefully. In most instances, it is normally a conspiracy so that the public never hears of this. The newsmakers will do anything so that they are not exposed to the society while sometimes it is the media that gives the whole matter a blackout. These matters have significance to the society and, therefore, it is imperative that they are informed on these issues.
In this book, the author does exactly that. He tries to expose all the issues that have dogged the American public in history because most of them do not make it into the news. Through this book, the author is able to turn down influence from the rest of the society on the ideologies that are already set and instead tries to be liberal. The content in the book is in a fictitious manner although all the information that is in the book is on a basis of facts. America is famed to be a country that is of assistance to others through the financial aid that it offers. The same country is also known for anti communism. However, in reality, America is not all that it seems to be from a distant perception. The country has committed many atrocities to these communities that it claims to help. Through the use of various techniques that include fiction in his narration, the author narrates some of the news that has an effect on the image of the country but is still not known to the public as yet.
There is a different perception that is with the public concerning the role of the country amongst others. Most people assume that the country is particularly peaceful amongst the others sometimes from the basis that the country itself stresses that factor. An example that the author gives is in 1990 when there was a famous war in the Middle East. The country stated its position as non partial in that war between Kuwait and Iraq (Smith 2001). However, Bush has invaded the country in just the few recent years. In fact, the country has taken the invasion of the Iraq so seriously that it has used more resources than in the World War 2. There have also been many other invasions that the country has interfered with in the recent past. The position of the country on these issues is that the actions are justified. An example is the Somalia invasion which the country blatantly termed as a manner of public relations. All these are stories that never get to the public as per their occurrence. In fact, most of the time the people receive information that is distorted and they are brainwashed by the government. The belief of the country is that the elimination of the middleman from the society is the only sure way to lead the country to success (Smith 2001).
There are many proceedings that happen in the country that many people do not have information of their originality. Some of them are economical and influence the lives of individuals. An example is in 1995 which had a strong influence on each individual. In this year, there was an increase in the profits that the companies were making which was proportional to the capital that they had at the time. The stocks in the markets were also experiencing a boom in the same year (Smith 2001). As expected, assets of companies also become stronger when these other factors remain that way. However, there was an increase that the laborers were working. Also, the consequences of this were the poor working conditions that the employees were now subject. The laborers also got lower wages and benefits. This was even after the Wall Street Journal had simulated that there was an exceptionally high level of increase in profits. Therefore, there was an enormous difference between the success that was in the markets and conditions that the laborers were facing in their current situations.
It is a fact that the US is successful and, therefore, the expectation is that the citizens have exclusive benefits. However, it is imperative to note that the country is the only one that does not have a health plan in comparison to other industrial counterparts. This is shocking considering the deaths that occur due to inadequate treatment. The cause of all this is the end of federal support from the government. The workers who earn peanuts cannot access treatment without support from the government. The reason for this halt in the support is the disappointment that Bill Clinton in his politics. According to the author, the Labor Party Conference meeting was the turning point of support (Smith 2001). The actions that the president took in those years were to have a positive influence in the history of the country. However, such news is hidden from the eyes of the public which later ends up haunting them.
There are instances that I personally agree with the author. First, it is evident that there are some issues that are hidden from the public by the media. Also, there are various perceptions that are presented to the public according to what the government wants people to see. I agree on the point that the author makes when talking about the involvement of the country in wars that do not concern them. It is not clear as to what the intentions of the country could be in wars that are not in their own continent. An example is the war in Iraq. In spite of claiming that they will not be involved in such wars, the country invaded Iraq just recently. Personally I think that if there is war between countries, then the UN should step in and solve the issue. Such organizations were formed for the intention of fostering national unity.
Also, I agree that there should be better offering of services to the society. This is putting into consideration the amount of success that the country has at the moment. I think that the country is financially stable enough to provide federal support to the community. My evidence for this is the ability of the country to give financial support to other countries. According to me, the author is right and has provided the information in an unbiased manner. Through this book, the author shows the injustices that have occurred since the era after the world war that has not been availed to the public.
References
Smith, M. K. (2001). The Greatest story never told: A people’s history of the American empire. Philadelphia, PA: Xlibris Corp.
