STORY: Tilted America: Ruled by Wealthy
DATELINE: June 24, 2023
LENGTH: 00:04:38
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. STANDUP 1 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent
2. STANDUP 2 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): STEPHEN NDEGWA, International Relations lecturer, United States International University (USIU-Africa)
4. STANDUP 3 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): AHMED ALIIBA, Journalist of Egyptian Al-Ahram newspaper
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ANNA MALINDOG-UY, Vice President of Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute
7. STANDUP 4 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent
8. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): MARIAM ARTHUR, U.S. citizen in Cambodia
9. SOUNDBITE 6 (English): STEPHEN NDEGWA, International Relations lecturer, United States International University (USIU-Africa)
10. SOUNDBITE 7 (English): ANNA MALINDOG-UY, Vice President of Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute
11. STANDUP 5 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent

STORYLINE:

STANDUP 1 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent
"'There are two important things in American politics. The first is money and the second one, sorry, I couldn't remember what it is.' This is the famous quote by Mark Hanna, who helped William McKinley win the U.S. presidential elections twice over a hundred years ago."

Subtitle: One Dollar, One Vote

STANDUP 2 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent
"According to an analysis published by the U.S. website OpenSecrets, the total cost of the 2022 state and federal midterm elections was nearly 17 billion dollars, Both setting all-time records.
OpenSecrets shows that the average cost of running for a Senate seat increased from 10.8 million dollars in 2018 to 13.5 million dollars in 2022. So, instead of "one person, one vote," it's more like "one dollar, one vote."

Elections have become a trade of power and money. The voting process is just a cover to empower capitalists. Money has a big influence on policy decisions in many sectors."

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): STEPHEN NDEGWA, International Relations lecturer, United States International University (USIU-Africa)
"The U.S. is based on money. It is a money enterprise, it is an enterprise that seeks to maximize profit, so the fact that it is run by corporations means that they're the ones who determine the kind of political leadership that they want."

Subtitle: Powerful Rich

STANDUP 3 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent
"This has put the needs of the privileged few above the well-being of the common people.

Gun violence is an example. It has been a top issue for decades, but it's only getting worse.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit organization that tracks gun violence in the country, more than 200 mass shootings had been reported in the United States by early May this year. And in each of the last three years, there have been more than 600 mass shootings in the United States.

A CNN report says that after every shooting, the same political rituals happen. But gun control only makes the U.S. political system more divided.

However, powerful lobbying groups are stopping efforts to control guns."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): AHMED ALIIBA, Journalist of Egyptian Al-Ahram newspaper
"The gun lobby plays a role in the laws of civilians carrying weapons, which makes it difficult for the U.S. to take action in this regard."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ANNA MALINDOG-UY, Vice President of Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute
"America, one of the biggest industries is arms, it's really the military-complex because that's one of the biggest industries in the U.S. and it's not only domestic industry, but it even sells arms and military assets across the world. So if you look at that, it's not just a culture. There's also an existing industry that fuels the kind of culture in America."

Subtitle: Wealth vs. Health

STANDUP 4 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent
"Gun violence takes lives suddenly and dramatically, but a broken healthcare system does it slowly and covertly.

Pharmaceutical corporations and medical conglomerates seek profits from the sick through the medical-industrial complex.

They spend millions on lobbying to influence policies and stop efforts to lower the cost of drugs and health insurance.

Some Americans have even moved to other countries for a better life."

SOUNDBITE 4 (English) HELEN, U.S. citizen in El Salvador
"If I have a health problem here (El Salvador), I can go to a public hospital, get some attention, but there (the United States), I can't even go to a hospital, because I don't have insurance there."

SOUNDBITE 5 (English): MARIAM ARTHUR, U.S. citizen in Cambodia
"I have access to quality medical care that I can afford in Cambodia. A few years ago, I had a knee injury and I went to a high-standard hospital where the doctor's consultation and MRI scan cost around 200 dollars. I can't even imagine the thousands of dollars it would have cost in the U.S."

Subtitle: In Money America Trusts

SOUNDBITE 6 (English): STEPHEN NDEGWA, International Relations lecturer, United States International University (USIU-Africa)
"In America, there's nothing else but money that drives politics. What is important is money, money. Money is the god of politics in America."

SOUNDBITE 7 (English): ANNA MALINDOG-UY, Vice President of Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute
"Money politics, in the United States, it defeats the purpose of having that kind of rule of majority or in a democracy."

STANDUP 5 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent
"In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln said that the government should be 'of the people, by the people, for the people.' 160 years later, America finds itself governed by and for the rich few."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)