This picture of Mitt Romney’s five sons got me thinking about some New Rules. (with apologies to Bill Maher, who is out with a bad case of Writer’s Strike.)
New rule: If you are white, upper middle class and Mormon, you don’t get to “throw up” like you are a gangsta thug and have people think you are a dog. Especially when you are wearing a vest with no shirt or a fanny pack. It doesn’t make you a rebel, it makes you a tool. Just ask K Fed.
As noted earlier, the Bush Administration and the FCC are attempting to do an end run on the democratic process in regard to legislative measures concerning media consolidation coming before Congress on December 18, 2007. Bill Moyers Journal did their usual top notch investigative work on this important issue (watch the video) and it’s all heating up rather nicely. What’s it all about? Ralph Bernarado wrote in his post to the Disinformation group on Facebook:
If you think media consolidation doesn’t matter much, just consider this country’s march to the Iraq War. A more diverse media landscape means more voices, more critical thinking, and therefore less groupthink: which is essential to a healthy democracy.
And, that is what is at stake. A healthy democracy.
Rule changes such as the one (FCC Chairman) Martin is proposing are designed to further consolidate media ownership into the hands of the powerful few. Free Press conducted a study which found that while minorities make up 33% of the U.S. population, they make up just 3.26% of all TV station owners. Download the full study as a PDF here.
At the hearing, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps said: “The commission always seems to be on the fast break to help big media, but it’s slow as molasses when the topic is the public interest. I will fight against any efforts to short-circuit the process.” Kudos to Commissioner Copps, but if we are going to stop this dangerous deregulation, we are all going to have to fight alongside him.
For more information in his matter, the Center for Public Integrity has a nice study called “Well Connected” that gets down to who owns what and why it’s important. They also have a Media Tracker so you can find out who owns the media that controls the information in your neck of the woods. (You might be surprised.)
Wanna get your hands dirty and make your voice heard? Good.
High up on the ridge, looking down at the river below. It’s a good hike in the snow.
The frozen creek at the bottom of the ridge.
The infamous train tracks that you have to cross to get to the river. 
The Missouri River. That’s Iowa across the way.
