government corruption

Michael's (MNN Access Center in Manhattan) passion is right on. Do you think it is time to stand tall demand an end to the oligarchy and form a government that actually cares about the people instead of business special interest. I invite you to read the back story that follows which was written by Jen Howard, Free Press.
There should not be back room deals in government, there should not be secret negotiations, there should not be secret deals or administrations playing their cards "close to the vest". Such activity begs suspicion.
In a government by and for the people, there should be NO tolerance for any secrets. Sadly, such activity is not unique to FCC It exist at all levels of government. Enough is enough.
Here is what Michael writes

Michael's (MNN Access Center in Manhattan) passion is right on.

"Media Tricks Deserve Treats

So . . . October 31 for a FCC Hearing, Halloween, Days of the Dead, Nights of Mischief. So fitting, one wonders what the hell Chairman Martin was thinking.

Years ago, a number of disrespectful, unwieldy, anarchistic and absolutely correct folk converged at the FCC headquarters, lowered and trashed the corporate FCC flag and flew the skull and cross bones of the pirate radio movement. This was the shot across the bow for the emergent LPFM movement. These are the truly significant acts of democratic media activists - we shouldn't forget that.

Today, in this time of the real and manufactured media war, the age of the endless political lie, we must demand and do even more. We should converge on Washington on October 31st, not to be heard, (since that seems to matter little to corporate bureaucrats inside) but to shut this farce of an commission of miscommunication down in a display of our dignity. Even if for this one night, let those inside hear the indignant silence of of a nation. Instead, let's be heard on the outside, in DC and everywhere.

Enough with the email campaigns - nobody is reading them anyway - let's organize an old fashioned protest instead. On Oct 31st let's converge in DC and fill the white space with 'our noise', trash the 700MhZ spectrum with 'our static', and flood the audible airwaves with 'our outrage' for a commission so obviously beholden to it's corporate patrons and neglectful of the public interest. Can't make it to DC? OK, just head down to one of your favorite corporate media outlets and make noise there - after all, it's their corporate parent yanking the strings of the FCC.

With all due respect to the minority (Adelstein and Copps), it's time we just 'Tell the FCC Ya Basta - Enough!' This is no longer a time to negotiate, the majority have repeatedly demonstrated a lack of good faith and reason, we need to work to suspend the activities of this commission until sounder minds can take over.

So - who's down? Put on a mask and bear your conscious! We can do this.

- Michael

PS: You'll probably be reading this tomorrow, the 25th of October. One year ago on this date, Brad Will, a videographer for the Independent Media Center, took a bullet in the chest and died in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. He was shot down by officials of the local PRI government while filming behind the barricades of the popular resistance. Brad videotaped his own shooting. His killers (who were photographed by other press), were detained, released and are now missing. To date, the U.S. State department and the Mexican Government have remained silent and sought no investigation nor justice in this matter (nor for the dozens of others who were killed and tortured in Oaxaca during this period). Brad Will - Presente!"

Jen Howard wrote:
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> free press: media is the issue
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> October 24, 2007
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> For Immediate Release
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> Contact:
> Jen Howard, Free Press, (703) 517-6273
> FCC Hearing Shuts Out the Public
> In rush for more media consolidation, Chairman Martin neglects the public and ignores Congress
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> WASHINGTON -- Late Wednesday night, the Federal Communications Commission announced that its next hearing on localism will be on Oct. 31 at FCC headquarters in Washington, D.C. The hearing's belated announcement -- just five business days before the event -- follows reports that FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is rushing to eliminate longstanding media ownership limits before the end of the year.
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> Free Press Executive Director Josh Silver issued the following statement:
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> "How can you have a hearing on localism without giving the local community time to find out it is happening? Chairman Martin's actions suggest that he's never been serious about paying attention to the public. He's already made up his mind, and is hell-bent on gutting the rules.
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> "This is a slap in the face to the vast majority of Americans who oppose consolidation and a direct insult to the bipartisan members of Congress who have called for a fair and transparent public process. The chairman is ignoring the undeniable evidence that media consolidation has a devastating impact on local news and diversity.
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> "It feels like deja vu all over again. Chairman Martin is repeating the same mistakes that ignited a firestorm of opposition four years ago. He may not want to listen to the countless Americans who are sick and tired of a broken media system -- but they will be heard."
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> FCC Public Notice:
> http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-277560A1.pdf
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> Joint statement from FCC Commissioners Adelstein and Copps:
> http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-277561A1.doc