June 02, 2003

You Will Be Assimilated

In a move that's good for virtually nobody, Your Government today decreed that media monoliths can now buy even more outlets! So the same company can (and will) own, in the same city:

up to three TV stations, eight radio stations, the cable TV system, cable TV stations and the only daily newspaper.

Isn't that terrific? We're sure to get a healthy dose of debate and thoughtful examinations of both sides of issues now! FCC chairman Michael Powell, whose agency was once quaintly responsible for stopping crap like this, chimed in on the decision. In a statement that made even famous liars Tommy Flanagan and Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf shake their heads in admiration, Powell said,

"Our actions will advance our goals of diversity and localism..."

Exactly how diversity and localism will be served by having Disney and Rupert Murdoch deciding every bit of information being distributed, he didn't say.

I'm tempted not to care, since actual news is scarce in newspapers and nonexistent on radio and TV (tonight on Channel 7: 15 seconds about the Middle East and 4 minutes recapping that 2-hour kidney stone of a reality TV show which just aired on Channel 7). But who on earth, except for the Monopoly guy and his cohorts, really wants this much control in these few hands? Certainly not these people:

The critics of eased rules include consumer advocates, civil rights and religious groups, small broadcasters, writers, musicians, academicians and the National Rifle Association.

I guarantee you, you will never see that particular cultural ensemble line up together again, unless the question is "Do you like ice cream?" You'd think someone might stand up to this, and in fact some are: John McCain plans to grill the FCC on Wednesday, and there might be a few Democrats who are against it (like Howard Dean, fast becoming my favorite politician -- more on this anon). But I bet you won't hear about it on your local news.

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