In the Gemini rising chart, Mars and Uranus occupy the first house, indicating an aggressive and progressive personal image for the nation, especially in terms of knowledge and education. Mars in Gemini is smart, versatile, and humorous. Uranus in Gemini, conjuncting the Ascendant, is simply brilliant, unconventional, and has a wacky sense of humour. Both planets will fight for freedom of speech or expression. Both Mars and Uranus in this sign also have to do with America's advanced aerospace industry.

In the Sagittarius rising chart, Mars and Uranus fall in the seventh house of relationships indicating its aggressive and scientific foreign policy or attitude. Fortunately, it is trined by planets in Libra and Aquarius so that the nation comes out ahead in most cases. The square from Neptune to Mars indicates misunderstanding or deceptive dealings.

The other major difference is the positioning of the Cancer grouping of planets. In the Gemini rising chart, those four planets fall in the second house making America a financial or economic giant or powerhouse, whereas in the Sagittarius rising chart they fall in the 8th house of the occult and other people's money or resources. It is also true that America relies heavily on foreign or outside resources, and has a staggering debt. Of themselves, the Cancer grouping describes an emotional and home-loving peoples. With Sun in Cancer, home, family, and security come first. Mercury in Cancer is intuitive and concentrates on personal and domestic issues. Venus in Cancer puts a premium on food, housing, security, and savings. Jupiter in Cancer provides and protects, buys foreign property, and likes to deal in bulk. They want big houses, big bank accounts, and big meals(resulting in big bellies!).

In the Gemini rising chart the ruler, Mercury, falls in the second house of money and resources opposite Pluto in the eighth(other people's money), whereas in the Sagittarius rising chart the ruler, Jupiter, falls in the eighth house (foreign acquisition or debt) and Pluto falls in the second house(exceptional gains or losses). Pluto in Capricorn curbs somewhat the strong Cancerian urge to consume. This position can go to extremes where economy, organization, and control are concerned, and will play a pivotal role in America's quest for world or global government.

The tenth house is Piscean or Neptunian in both charts. Neptune in Virgo indicates a psyche obssessed with work and perfection. Saturn occupies the 5th-11th axis and Pluto the 2nd-8th axis. Saturn in Libra is very much the law maker and enforcer. There is a keen sense of beauty and harmony, especially noticeable in their housing and architecture. Most of the planets are above the horizon for the Sag chart, and below the horizon for the Gemini chart.

With an Aquarius Midheaven, America can be gauged as "the land of freedom" and scientific progress -with the Moon as preserver or protector of these ideals, whereas a Libra Midheaven would type it as "the world's mediator or judiciator" -with Saturn lending its stern hand in the process.

Newly discovered Eris is at 8°09'R Capricorn in exact quincunx(stress) relationship to Uranus and in general opposition to the Cancer grouping. Sedna is at 15°25' Pisces trining the Sun and in quincunx to Saturn. What these aspects really mean is not yet certain due to the unknown nature of the these two new planets.

While I do not have a specific preference for either chart, I do feel America's vast resources are best reflected by a heavily tenanted second house. Others will argue, however, that these resources were obtained at the expense of others.