 FCC Chairman Michael Powell has declared "The Market Is My Religion." This most unwise and unrighteous mortal made the mistake of claiming: "The night after I was sworn in, I waited for a visit from the angel of the public interest. I waited all night, but she did not come." Since he had trouble seeing one Angel that dreadful night, on March 22nd we shall descend upon him in droves. The Angels of Public
Interest Will Descend Upon the FCC! Mr. Powell did not see the "Public Interest Angel" the night he was sworn in, but on March 22nd the Angels of Public Interest will descend upon him in droves!Freedom and Democracy Are Under Attack!
Crazed fundamentalists who hate freedom and democracy have just executed a severe assault on America's Freedom of the Press. In a grotesque ruling that reeks of yet another quid pro quo corporate corruption case, a federal court, at behest of Fox News Corp, AOL Time Warner, GE, and Viacom, has issued a decision that could remove the last remaining regulations that prevent corporate conglomerates from monopolizing the American media and communication landscape. In an attack that began with the 1996 Telecommunications Act, corporate elites and lobbyists have been aggressively dismantling all regulations and laws that have been put into place to protect and guarantee a diversity of viewpoints and the free flow of information throughout the media. What has become known as the "Communications Cartel" has bought off and influenced politicians and the Federal Communications Commission, and has been casting aside media ownership rules. This latest ruling will further the already dangerous concentration of power within our communication and information system. As if it is not completely absurd already that a handful of interrelated corporations presently dominate the mass media, we are now on the threshold of what, in essence, will be a complete annihilation of the very foundation of American Democracy - the Freedom of the Press.
In a land of 300 million people - in the most diverse population in
the history of civilization - we are going to have perhaps five, or
even as little as two or three, corporate conglomerates
controlling what we hear and see through the mass media.
And this is the Information Age? Who should we turn to in a situation like this? Who is going to protect our democracy and the public interest? Well, our government has a body designed to regulate and prevent the monopolization of communication. Yes, the FCC. Let's quickly take a look at the FCC and their Chairman Mike Powell. One of Mike's first moves as a Commissioner was to support the largest merger in telecommunications history - between AOL and Time Warner - creating the most powerful media empire humanity has ever known. Oh, and coincidently, Mike Powell is the son of current Secretary of State and AOL Time Warner's good old board member, Colin Powell - who owns $13.3 million worth of AOL stock! No corruption or conflict of interest there. But hey, he doesn't just hook up his Dad, he pays respect to many in the good old boy cartel - as Chairman he has approved mergers as rules were shoved aside to allow Viacom to purchase CBS and Fox News Corp to buy Chris Craft Industries. And this is the man appointed to be the protector of public interest! To make matters worse, Michael Powell has stated on record that he has no concept of "the public interest." As far as he can tell, there is no such thing. He has arrogantly declared himself to be a market fundamentalist by stating "The Market Is My Religion." He also went on to say the following, mocking the American public, freedom, and democracy: "The night after I was sworn in, I waited for a visit from the angel of the public interest. I waited all night, but she did not come." Mike later added, "I still have had no divine awakening and no one has issued me my public interest crystal ball." He has even called laws that prevent all out media domination "the oppressor." In the land of the absurd, truth is most absurd . . . you couldn't make this stuff up. Have these power-addicted tycoons become so greedy and shortsighted as to think that the American public is just going to sit back and accept this? Have they become so arrogant in their power that they assume hard working American's are not even going to notice as this is all executed behind closed doors, away from the mass media spotlight that they are already dominating? Well, if they think that they can pull this off, they are headed for a "divine awakening." Enough of all this talk, it is time for some ACTION! On March 22nd our first counter move will take place. Mr. Powell did not see the "Public Interest Angel" the night he was sworn in, but on March 22nd the Angels of Public Interest will descend upon him in droves! We suggest you question your mortality. Maybe you are an Angel after all? A DIVERSE group of activists and media advocates will gather at the FCC in Washington, D.C. to demonstrate to Powell, Congress, and the Communications Cartel, that there IS such thing as the public interest. And, more than that, there is an interested public that will not let big corporate media devour democracy, journalism, culture, the open Internet, and the possibilities of new communication and information technology. If we believe in informed democracy, civil rights, community empowerment, free speech, social justice and a diverse, representative, creative and independent media culture, we must TAKE ACTION NOW. Please join us and show your support! Spread this call to action to all of your networks, colleagues, constituents, friends, students, and neighbors. Please give your name to endorse this march, and bring a crowd with you. Democracy is at stake! For more information please visit: www.AmericanResurrection.com
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