Washington Affairs

9 June 2003


FCC Relaxes Ownership Rules
The Federal Communications Commission has decided that ownership of newspapers and broadcasting outlets could do with further concentration. So, last week, the rules on ownership have been relaxed to accommodate greater "business synergies" and to allow fuller freedom of expression. One is unsure whether to laugh at the idea of people thinking there's diversity to be lost or to cry over the fact that money equals speech. Click here to read more.

Amending the Constitution to Deal with Terror Threat
In the debates over the appropriate response to the threats America faces in the 21st century, the debate on how to amend the constitution to deal with a possible decimation of the Congress is one of the more high minded and significant discussions underway. A bipartisan panel, the Continuity of Government Commission, is currently studying various solutions to the problem, and numerous suggestions have been made. While none is perfect, some are more worthy than others. Click here for more.

Senator Clinton Writes a Book
New York's junior senator, Mrs. William Jefferson Clinton, has a book coming out, and she has been advanced $8 million for the work. Fortunately, there is a Harry Potter novel due out in three weeks, and her time as #1 will be brief. This is not a review of the book, as it hasn't made it to the offices here, and it is not policy of the title to review what has not been read, seen or heard. Rather, one wishes to know what the book could possibly contain to merit $8 million up front. Click here to read on.