The TV in the Four Points Sheraton only receives ONE channel – FOX. All other stations, including other news stations, are blocked.

Same thing with the TVs in ALL of the McDonald’s restaurants here in the south central part of PA – and the managers at the local MickyD’s say that FOX is the ONLY station they are allowed to show, as per orders from company headquarters, though the company headquarters, Delamor Enterprises in Chambersburg, PA, denied that this was the case when I wrote to them this summer.

One store associate in Waynesboro, PA told me that that FOX is the only station they are allowed to show because FOX is a "family friendly" channel that appeals to all ages. I wasn't aware that preschoolers are now into Glenn Beck, but then, maybe I'm behind the times.

So, who exactly is paying all these hotels and restaurants to show only ONE point of view in their dining rooms and lobbies?

The funny thing is (and I’m giving away my age here) that back during the Cold War, we were taught in school that one major feature of COMMUNISM was that in Communist countries, they had only one or two TV stations, which broadcast the party line. We were taught that this was a BAD thing.

Of course, this is America, and we’re not communist, so the government doesn’t tell hotels and restaurants what channel they have to air in their public spaces. Instead, multi-billion dollar corporate concerns use cash to "persuade" companies to promote a particular party line. In other words, Communism used a "stick" – the threat of force – whereas the New Right uses a "carrot"- cold hard cash.

But the end result is the same – in either case,"They" choose the points of view and the information to which the American public is exposed in hotel lobbies, dining rooms and other public places...

...and as far as I’m concerned, that’s STILL a Bad Thing.