Public interest groups were largely locked out of the process of formulating the measure, which was crafted out of public view, through the lobbying efforts of telephone, cable, broadcast, newspaper, publishing, online services, consumer electronic, entertainment and other companies. In this action, the US Congress has arrogantly disregarded the general welfare of the people. The legislative process with regard to the telecom bills amounts to no more than a rigged and lopsided competition of ideas to serve mega-corporate centers of power, without serious attempt to secure a desirable future for the whole people. Rulers surrounded by spies, police, jurists, tax collectors, generals, and administrators cannot rule for very long. Power ultimately emanates from below.
Rulers can rule only insofar as they have the tacit or active support of the ruled.
Without it, they become impotent in the face of citizens acting together in solidarity for the achievement of their own common goals. Other media buyouts with even higher premiums have been pouring in ever since. The bill was loaded with a package of special benefits for the broadcasters. On Aug 1, the day the CBS deal was announced, the House Rules Committee passed a resolution authorizing an 11th hour manager's amendment that rewrote 42 items in the bill, secretly behind closed doors, on directions from Speaker Newt Gingrich and industry representatives. Indeed, the anticipated 21st century global treasure hunt authorized by the transformation emerging from the 104th Congress has placed in line to be taken over by financial scavengers the whole constellation of telephone, cable, broadcast, newspaper, publishing, online services, consumer electronic, entertainment and other companies.