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Town Hall Hysteria: Health Care Reform Disinfo Thrives

SHELLEY ACKERMAN
Photo: Rich Press

Burning Down the House

The trio of ‘fire’ planets, Mars, the Sun, and Jupiter (rulers of the fire signs Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius) are in a rousing dialogue with one another this week, and on the one hand, the energy between them evokes the good-natured image of big brawny guys bragging loudly at a bar, each egging the other on in a game of one-up-man-ship. It sure sounds like fun, but scenes like that often degenerate into competitive, physical, and testosterone-laden knock-down drag outs. The latter is descriptive of what’s been happening across the country in the many Town Hall meetings about health care reform that we’ve been hearing so much about.

Why is it that those who know the least always seem to shout the loudest? The disinformation campaigns funded by well-moneyed right wing groups have been extremely effective in instilling fear and confusion in the hearts and minds of those who stand to benefit the most from reform.

With the help of instigators such as Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, and Ben Stein, many riled up and violent protesters at Town Hall Meetings are screaming about “Kill Grandma Panels” and believe that they can’t keep their present policies (which is untrue), many others are indignant about the possibility of a 3% increase in taxes (for those who earn over $250k) to offset the costs.

Where is the outrage over paying $20, $30, or $50 million dollar bonuses for bailed out executives with our tax dollars? Given the choice, I’d rather have that $20 million go to insure 80,000 people who need it instead of buying a yacht and several luxury homes for one fat cat. Think about it.

In the past 10 years, the profits generated by the health insurance industry skyrocketed a whopping 428% while 19% of the insured were dropped due to their ‘undesirability’, age, or ‘pre-existing’ conditions.

And although most insurers and big pharmaceutical companies insist that “without profits their can be no research”, that argument is about as convincing as citing Ronald Reagan’s failed “trickle down economics” policy, you know, the one that bet on big business sharing the wealth with it’s employees. During Reagan’s reign the national debt tripled to over $2.9 trillion and the gap between the haves and have-nots widened exponentially.

ARIES: There’s plenty for you to be happy about: Your energy’s up, there’s a big and appreciative audience for your clever banter, and you can count on several votes of confidence from those who can make a difference going forward. But don’t get too heady or lose your focus: Keep your eyes on the road and pay attention to specifics at work. Now more than ever, the devil is in the details, and ignoring those pesky buggers will get you into trouble big time. Mars and unpredictable Uranus collide and may yield flashes of insight about your past. Be open to a revelation or two..

TAURUS: The positive flow between your 2nd house of income and your very visible career house enables you to effortlessly move a mountain or two as long as you don’t get sidetracked by worrying about what others think or by paying too much attention to an outburst from the peanut gallery. But on another front, you do need to pay close attention to a creative project and put some hours in now to assure that your luck keeps up. A tedious conversation between you, your kids and/or a romantic partner must take place. Avoiding this inevitable chat will put a damper on what would otherwise be a victorious week.

GEMINI: Though Mars in your sign in exuberant aspect to the Sun, Jupiter and Neptune this week brings excitement fills you with confidence, there could be unexpected demands from the boss that must take precedent. And on the home front, the meet-up of your ruler, mercury with demanding Saturn all but guarantees a tĕte a tĕte with an older family member. You hold the keys to smoothing out a rocky and problematic situation and it’s imperative that you take your ‘healing’ role in this matter seriously.

CANCER: As a rule, it’s foolish to rely on one’s charm to change hearts and minds, but this week, it can make all the difference in the world: Mercury and Saturn merge in your 3rd house of communication and transportation and if there’s a stalemate in your neighborhood, or a disagreement among siblings, yours is the deciding vote. The positive interplay between planets in your money houses has you more upbeat about the future than you’ve been in a long time. Just the same, refrain from overspending. The restraint now will pay off when you need a down-payment later.

LEO: The question is, can you bask in your popularity and feel like the star of the show even as you are forced to keep your eyes on the nitty gritty financials? The meet-up of Mercury and Saturn in your 2nd house of income eclipses all else and you have no choice but to deal with the unglamorous aspects of earning, planning, bill-paying and banking. Have you done everything you can to insure your solvency for the next few months? If not, get on the phone and on the Internet now, so that you can enjoy the holiday season later, the good news is that people are receptive and actually waiting to hear from you.

VIRGO: Like a ferret with focus and a GOAL, nothing escapes your efficient mind this week, and that’s a good thing. You’re at your problem-solving best and poised to work through and resolve some long-standing dilemmas in the days ahead. There’s plenty of support, courtesy of the flowing aspect between Jupiter in your 6th house of co-workers and Mars in your career house. If a partner, spouse or BFF acts out- be kind but firm, and let them know that you’re in no mood to deal with their craziness, there’s simply too much to be done.

LIBRA: It’s always strange when others are unable to see or know what you’re going through privately because all looks just fine on the surface. But you know what your needs are, and the fact remains, that while much of your planetary activity would have you being especially social, Mercury and Saturn in your hidden 12th house has you processing your little tail off and working overtime. To thine own self be true, and that means if you need a time out, take it- no explanation is necessary.

SCORPIO: Your ruling planet, Mars, in your 8th house of sex, transformation, and shared resources is in fabulous aspect to both the Sun in your career house and Jupiter in your family/home sector. Never have you been in as good a position as you are now to negotiate a healthy equilibrium between these two camps. While you’re working on striking the right balance between your professional and private self, so not discount the wise counsel of the community that you count on for support. Some of them may not be that glamorous, but they sure know what they’re talking about.

SAGITTARIUS: The fiery aspect between Mars in your 7th house of partners and open enemies and Jupiter in your chatty 3rd house can and should be more exhilarating than it is confrontational. The best use of the energy is to physicalize it and partake in some tennis, volleyball, or hiking. Water sports and boating should be ignored this week as Uranus in the 4th house could make it a bit more dangerous than fun. The meet-up of Mercury and Saturn in your career house on the 17th emphasizes wording all professional communiqués very carefully. Less is more.

CAPRICORN: There’s a prefect alignment between Mars and Jupiter in your work/money houses to your midheaven. Make sure that the lines of communication are open and that all equipment (computer, blackberry, phone, etc.) are in perfect working order. Your ruling planet, Saturn will merge with Mercury the planet of communication in detail-oriented Virgo, the first of 3 such meet-ups in the next six weeks. Pay close attention to legal documents and exchanges with counsel. You’re likely to see something that they (or the opposing side) missed, and it could make all the difference in the world.

AQUARIUS: Next to the self-protective sign of Cancer, you hate confrontations and would almost opt to drop a friendship than deal with the painstaking details of getting to the bottom of an issue. And while no one would argue the fact that those types of conversations are about as much fun as a root canal, when it comes down to it, the friendship is valuable and worth the trouble, is it not? But this talk doesn’t have to be a wrenching experience, your gift of humor and your special way of owning up to your end of things has gotten you off and back in good graces many times before. It’ll surely work again now.

PISCES: What’s most important at this juncture, is for you to think about what part of yourself you’re most vested in: When unconscious, water signs have terrible boundary problems and may end up sharing more of themselves than is appropriate or healthy. SO who are you in dialogue with and how can you make the conversation more meaningful and efficient? Mercury and Saturn in your 7th house of partnership will force you to edit and to be economical as you remain loving. Talking too much can sometimes be the death of true intimacy.