VECO Investment in Ted's Kitchen Returns Lucrative Contracts

Senator from Alaska gets a neat new addition to his home, and an oil firm gets a few lucrative contracts directed their way from a certain legislator in Congress. Does this news really surprise anybody?

For those of you who aren't familiar with this story, take a look here.

Ted Stevens Bribed by Big Oil

The collusion between politicians and corporations is nothing new inside the Beltway, and this development is nothing different. Lobbyists secure lucrative government contracts for public services and projects by swooning senators and congressmen with expensive steaks and "business vacations" to exotic destinations. The two parties that engage in this less-than-noble activity are the only ones to benefit from the practice. Constituents often are shortchanged, with less-qualified companies taking contracts from other firms that would likely perform better for less tax dollars. Is it any coincidence that politicians often live in more luxurious abodes than many of their voters? I think not, considering that the addition to Ted Steven's home funded by the oil firm VECO more than doubled his home, already located on a remote golf resort. I'm sure VECO's investment in Ted Steven's newly expanded kitchen and game room was a smart business decision, otherwise they wouldn't have done it.

Considering the symbiotic relationship between large companies and politicians, it is no wonder that the demands of the middle class are repeatedly ignored.

On another note, The Wall Street Journal was acquired by media tyrant Rupert Murdoch. I suppose offering $60 a share for a stock that was trading at $33 dollars per share was too much for the Bancroft family.

Rupert Murdoch's acquisition of various news media outlets is nothing new. He loses millions of dollars a year owning the New York Post. However, that paper gives him a great pulpit from which to preach his conservative views, which clock in just a little to the right of Attila the Hun.

Objective journalism took another hit today, I just hope people can tell the op ed pieces from the sliver of news that will remain between the lines. But the American people have failed themselves before, and it's doubtful that this they will pass this test either.