Astroworld

FCC Chairman, Michael Powell, son of US Secretary of State Colin Powell, believes the public will be better served with "more news programming" if federal regulations are changed allowing newspaper owners to add radio, cable and television stations to their monopoly. The danger of allowing this kind of saturation by one voice, one opinion, can readily be seen. In effect this concentration of power will allow corporate media moguls to dominate whatever region they choose to saturate with their bias.

Instead of providing more and better news programming, the increased quanity is sure to only guarantee the public with more mimicing and aping of the administration's viewpoints by promoting their Right Wing agenda, while all factions of the empire goosestep along to expedite the Party Line. That message being a constant bombardment of propaganda, rhetoric and unrelenting lies and deceptions.

If this FCC proposal goes into effect you can look forward to more Orwellian dominance of the airwaves; as if we don't have enough of that already. There's little difference between MS-Gop and Faux News as it is. Look for "All Bush, All the Time" to saturate the media, with each station and newspaper sounding nearly identical to the other as they proceed to dismantle the very tenets of our democracy. Fairness, accuracy and objectivity are fast becoming endangered species.

The proposed deregulation will give control and monopoly to the giant media conglomerations and mark the death of the frustratingly few, small, independent voices that have been all but bullied into silence over the airwaves now. With these media magnates taking over nearly all forms of public communications; radio, TV, and cable stations, along with newspapers, can the Internet be far behind? Just because it hasn't been specifically mentioned, don't kid yourself into thinking it's been overlooked.

Once deregulation takes effect, the pretense of "Fair and Balanced" news and everyone-has-a-right-to-their-opinion will become as antiquated as high-button shoes and the horse and buggy. Currently the ONLY arena that still provides an open forum for free-thinking and independent discussion is the Internet. If we lose this battle, the only thing that keeps us from the 24/7 frontal attack ala "Big Brother" is our tenuous connection to the Internet. We may soon see a day when well respected sites, that bring a variety of individual and diverse opinions, may be permanently stifled as well.

From an historical perspective, you may recall that when the Nazis took over Germany the first thing they did was seize complete control of the Press. This is exactly what certain extremists in the government are trying to do today. If the people in charge have complete control of the Press, then the Press becomes nothing more than a tool of propaganda and all the people know is what the Government wants them to know. It's a very dangerous situation.

I don't want a world without BartCop, or Mike Malloy; Media Whores Online, Echaton, Counterspin Central, Online Journal, or Democratic Underground, etc, etc. Or the thousands of other brave and creative souls that continue to advocate resistance and refuse to knuckle under from media pressure. Considering the affliation of the religious fundamendalists with the Conservative Right Wing that currently dominates the Republican Party, sites that promote the study and belief in Astrology could also, easily, be silenced. That's pretty scary.

With that in mind, activist Ben Cohen, of "Ben & Jerry's" Ice Cream, has put together, through his organization, "True Majority" , a way to vent your dismay at the FCC's intention to blatantly do away with our Constitutional protections of Free Speech and Freedom of the Press. Ben is paying for faxes to be sent to the FCC office in Washington, DC. If you're as concerned about this issue as I am, please click on the link below and read the Full Story. A letter is already composed, all you have to do is add your name to it.

Full Story


Then please forward this to anyone else you think agrees that journalism is the lifeblood of democracy.

Before the frail candle blows out on the experiment of Democracy, and our glory days of pluralistic nonconformity becomes nothing but a faded memory we speak of in hushed tones to our grandchildren, I'd like to examine the chart for the FCC meeting, which is scheduled to commence at 9:30 AM, June 2, 2003, in Washington, DC.

According to the notice posted on their website, the FCC will be holding an open Review of the Commission’s Broadcast Ownership Rules and Other Rules Adopted Pursuant to Section 202 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (MB Docket No. 02-277); Cross-Ownership of Broadcast Stations and Newspapers (MM Docket No. 01-235); Rules and Policies Concerning Multiple Ownership of Radio Broadcast Stations in Local Markets (MM Docket No. 01-317); and Definition of Radio Markets (MM Docket No. 00-244).

So, let's look into our bag of goodies and see who's going to go home with all the marbles. NOT, that they haven't already LOST all of theirs!

This is a tricky chart to read since this isn't a hoary chart, set for the time when a thought or idea came to mind. It's not exactly an electional chart either, since this isn't an enterprise that is being timed to take the best advantage of a beneficial planetary arrangement, like selling a house, a wedding, or launching a new business. But yet, we can take cues and techniques from both methods.

Chart for FCC Hearings June 2, 2003


We get affirmation that this chart is correct with Virgo, ruled by Mercury, the planet of communications, appearing on the cusp of the Third House. This is fitting since we are dealing with an entity devoted to furthering and promoting communications, a Third House domain. Mercury itself is in the autonomous Tenth House, indicating that this meeting includes a number of authoritarian and influencial individuals. Mercury is also involved in a number of important squares that have direct bearing on the outcome.

I'm more than a little uncomfortable seeing Saturn, at 29 degrees, winding up the last days of a long and exhaustive trek through Gemini. The planet of loss and misfortune, in the sign of information and expression, can't bode well for the preservation of Free Speech or an open market place in the promotion and exchange of ideas and communication.

Indeed Saturn's presence in Gemini, nearly since this current administration's inception, has done much to erode and undermine our liberties guaranteed through the Bill of Rights that we, as Americans, have taken for granted. Or maybe this is a good illustration of the old blues refrain, "You Don't Miss Your Water 'till the Well Run Dry". Saturn in the transitional 29th degree indicates this is the beginning of a phase that could easily turn sour or may be the tentative peek into a snaky Pandora's Box of things to come; we have reason to be cynical.

Interesting, and also appropriate, to find Leo, the sign of entertainment, on the ASC. But more than a little disconcerting when you realize the lines between information and entertainment are so frequently blurred these days as to make them both nearly indistinguishable. This is apparent when an appalling number of people admit they get the bulk of their news from the late night variety programs hosted by happy-to-kick-Clinton-and-the-Democrat's-in-the-balls Jay Leno, or well-I'm-more-relucant-but---hey, anything-for-a-laugh, David Letterman.

The crux of this chart can be seen with Leo on the ASC, and ruler Sun in Gemini, yep we certainly are dealing with a vital (Sun) and fundamental linch-pin of Democracy. If we confuse entertainment with information, and that is done deliberately to delude the public into a false sense of complacency, then how will we be able to distinguish truth from fiction when that distinction is essential?

It shouldn't, then, come as any surprise to find Mercury in a big fat square to Neptune, the planet of corporations, AND ruling the Ninth, the domain of corporations. Is that kismet, or what?? With both planets gaining strength by their angular position. The rhetorical phrases lauding deregulation as a new and improved way for the people to have even greater access to a cornucopia of information, no matter through what medium, will be flying thick and heavy. You'll need hip boots to navigate through all the bullshit!

As amusing as that sounds, there is the graver danger that comes with a square involving Neptune. That of being deceived and deliberately mislead. For most people the thought of having to dig for the truth and to discard the usual pablum spoonfed to us as information sounds like a major drag, and it is, if truth be told. But it becomes too easy to give in and to just stare, trancelike, at the TV set. When that happens, Neptune has prevailed and you're well on your way to being throughly indoctrinated. We need to be very watchful and vigilant, particularly with Mercury in the square to Neptune; lies abound.

Hey! This is starting to sound like a "Workers of the World Unite"...kind of speech. Well, ok...if the shoe fits.

Mercury is also in square to Jupiter, the planet of expansion and growth. The lies perpetrated by Neptune are further compounded by Jupiter; notice the very tight opposition between the two, falling across the first/seventh axis, indicating this will play out in a public realm. We've discussed the ramifications of a Jupiter/Neptune opposition in previous editions, but here is another example of how, in this case, we are being forced to accept a bill of goods.

With Mercury as the anchor of the T-Square, we don't see, or comprehend (Mercury) the dangers of the duplicitous (Neptune) words we are being told. With Jupiter all is feel-good and "don't worry, be happy." If only. This Pie-in-the-Sky mentality is an extention of the current pipe dream (Neptune) that desperately wants to believe that we can have a huge, whopping (Jupiter) financial panty-raid that benefits (Jupiter) the Super Rich, and still have plenty of money to fund a war, and pay for a burgeoning domestic agenda. Oh, and by the way, don't worry about nine million unemployed, that's just "figures"....not really people. This from the same group who brought us the tragically hilarious, "deficits don't matter."

It's almost creepy to see the symbolism of greedy Jupiter opposing Neptune, ruling corporations and media conglomerations. You can almost see the CEO's of various media giants salivating and rubbing their hands together as their plans to saturate the country, region by region, unfold. Independently owned and managed radio and TV stations, Neptune ruled by the way, along with a free press, must be feeling like Poland right about now, as the corporate Hitler prepares to trample over them, all sanctioned and affirmed by the FCC, of course.

Just keep repeating the mantra, "This is good for the country. This will give us more and better information." YES! We LOVE The Leader!! And yes....that was sarcasm.

The approaching opposition between Sun, the chart ruler, and Pluto, ruling commisions, of which the FCC is one, is also ominous. This aspect indicates the damage done by this probably won't become reality until Sun and Pluto are closer to exact; Pluto retrograding may delay the full enactment of this proposal.

The FCC, an organization which is supposed to have the interests of the People at heart, is clearly encouraging the mergers and take-overs of Big Media at the inevitable extermination of smaller, and less powerful (Pluto) communicative outlets. This conflict is shown by the trine between Jupiter and Pluto, and illustrates how easy it's become for a government agency, a representative of the People, to find itself in the back pocket of Corporate Business.

Throw in the opposition to illusive Neptune, which is on the other end of a sextile to Pluto, and we can easily comprehend how the FCC can turn its back on its first responsibility, that being to the Public, and to, wholeheartedly, a suspicious arangement with Media Moguls.

This is another one of so many events and circumstances, foisted on us by this administration, that will, later--when our brains return to our bodies--be put in the "what were we thinking?" category. But that's the whole problem, we're being discouraged and diverted from thinking for ourselves. Brainwashing starts in very incidious and subtle ways. But, with Pluto in the picture, the effects are long-lasting and deeply entrenched in our collective psyche.

With Mars ruling the public Mid-heaven, and also in another square involving Mercury, look for some fierce resistance and strongly vocal opposition to this plan. This chart is persistant in its lack of much to be joyous about. The lack of trines and the dominance of squares is not encouraging for a rosy outcome.

The trine between Sun and Neptune normally indicates an idealistic, even romantic time when goals are set and achieved and creativity flows easily. However, in this chart, perhaps the only romance to be pursued will be between the FCC and the gigantic media industry heads. Why do I get this horrific vision of Roger Ailes on top of Michael Powell screaming, "Who's Your Daddy? I said who's Your Daddy?"

Well, there's a disturbing thought I'll try to get out of my head.

How the trine may manifest is likely in the continuation of the public's own escape into serene complacency. It's almost like we've taken a collective dose of an anti-anxiety medication, we offer such pathetic, and easily overcome, opposition. We're so easily persuaded that everything is just wonderful, and our lives are never better. Looking for reassurance from the Glass Tit as we stare, spellbound, at the latest missive from CNN, et al.

But trouble and restlessness are brewing, with Venus and Mars in square. The normally lusty configuration between Love and War can brim over in frustrations and festering hostilities expressed in an all out declaration of conflict, making one wonder for which Master this government agency will declare its loyalty and allegiance.

The Moon, representing the People, is at home in Cancer, but is hampered by being in the Twelfth House, of loss and sorrow. The Moon, although not void, is poorly aspected, indicating the People are in a weakened and debilitated state. Coming from the Twelfth, we are being deliberately kept in the dark. Maybe the trine to rebellious Uranus is the source of our salvation. Change (Uranus) can only come to those who are willing to take the first step.

We started out as a nation of passionate insurgents, maybe this loss, this infringement of our basic civil liberties, as none before, will be the inducement to return to our ancestral roots of mutiny, and proclaim that a line has been drawn in the sand that will be crossed only by those who are reckless enough to defy us.

The trine between Moon and Uranus, with the later in the transitional Eighth indicates it's time to take back our power and to fight to perserve our independence, as we once did in this nation's infancy. Maybe it's time for our voices of dissent to be heard, loud and clear.