Post From Hit and Run

The Answer Is: Because It's a Free Country, You Idiot!

The question?

"You can always turn the television off and, of course, block the channels you don't want[....] But why should you have to?"

That's the head of the FCC, Kevin Martin, yammering in front of the Senate yesterday on the subject of "decency" on cable and satellite TV and radio. More here. Martin favors "a la carte" pricing of cable channels, on the theory that less objectionable material would come into the very households paying for such content. Given that he also favors extending federal content regulation to cable and satellite, we should recognize his support for a la carte pricing for what it is: an attempt to limit what consumers can watch and listen to.

God forbid Smellivision ever happens--because you know the FCC will be in favor of blocking adult smells too.

The argument that you shouldn't have to be bothered to make the effort to not watch the stuff you don't want to see is such crap I can't believe it's even been put forward. That it's been put out there by the head of the FCC is appalling and frightening.

And even if they instituted a la carte cable the same stupid argument could apply. Why should you be bothered to have to not pay for channels that have dirty stuff on them. Just prohibit broadcasting anything racier than "The Wiggles" and no one will have to be bothered with making a choice. Of course those ten channels that show "Law and Order" and "CSI" 24/7 will be out of business but at least we wont be bothered.

Between the F'n Communication Commission and the F'n Election Commission the Right to Free Speech seems to be in pretty sorry shape these days.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at 07:56 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment