Posted on 11/09/2005 5:36:21 PM PST by Pikamax
Sen. Obama Warns TV to Clean Up or Congress Will Act By Doug Halonen
If the industry doesn't take significant steps to make it easier for parents to control what their children view on television, Congress will step in and legislate. That was a warning shot fired by Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in a speech Wednesday in Washington.
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"The amount of questionable content spilling across our screens is growing by the year," Sen. Obama said at a press conference to release a new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation that says the number of sex scenes on TV has been increasing dramatically over the past several years.
"Once again, we find ourselves asking those in charge to serve the needs of a nation that has a higher calling than simply peddling indecency and materialism for profit," the senator said.
The study, which examined a representative example of broadcast and cable TV network shows, said that 70 percent of programs included some sexual content this year (with an average of five sex scenes per hour), while only 56 percent did so in 1998 (with 3.2 sex scenes per hour). Among shows that had sexual content, the study said, 14 percent this year included a reference to sexual risks or responsibilities, up from 9 percent in 1998.
But Sen. Obama said he is particularly concerned about the impact television is having on the ability of parents to instill positive values in their children. "Raising your children this way has become exceedingly difficult in a mass media culture that saturates our airwaves with a steady stream of sex, violence and materialism," he said.
I agree that the smut on TV these days (including commercials) has gotten out of hand. And there must be a stopping place.
Better if the industry, itself, monitored and sets standards. But obviously the TV industry is not going to take a stopping.
The FCC could be useful and probably would do more -- IF the public demanded it.
What's wrong with the industry displaying big XXX on the screen if their program is going to involve nudity or explicit sexual activity? Why can't they be forced to put a "rating" next their the title of every TV program?
The movie industry was forced to grade its movies, so that parents would know the content. I think TV programs should do likewise.
If TV shows were graded, PG, PG-13, X, XX, XXX, the next logical step could be that individual TV sets could be programmed to show only PG or PG-13.
That would be a big help to parents.
This is an important issue. I'm glad to see so much interest generated on this topic.
You have some good ideas. But I think something needs to be done.
Good for you and....good for your kids. they grumbled of course BUT...they loved and respected you and knew you meant business when you said no. Good for you!
One time hubby was on a business trip. Son was at a ball game and called home to see if he could go have pizza. For some reason I said no. I just told him I wasn't comfortable and woudl prefer he come home. I felt really bad becuase he is a good kid. Well, he came home and nothing more was said. The next day we found out there was a big fight at the pizza place by the team that had been defeated by our school. There were some broken limbs etc and the cops were called and it was out of control. I was so grateful he was not there as people were injured. Sometimes you just have a feeling. Mothers DO know best! :)Congratulations to you on being a great mother. Your kids will thank you later in life and will always be grateful to you. God bless you.
The RATs fight to have gay people come into schools and give speeches at assemblies and encourage the gay "lifestyle" yet they want "sex off the TV screen".
I guess the RATs want normal sex off TV and aim to teach the young children all about gay sex.
Seems clear to me.
Typical RATs.
The thing that I think should be legislative are the warnings. I think that if a show says that it is for kids but doesn't follow the guidelines, then they should be penalized.
We have a TIVO and a password, but still some of the shows are unacceptable.
The real hard one is radio. I wish that they would make radios with parental controls on them. I don't let my kids listen to the radio on their own because so much of it is awful. In the car, the only stations I trust with kids are Christian stations.
Obama trying to woo the moral vote his way.
A little wink and a nudge on the elbow and it'll all come streaming back in.
Tipper Gore did by lobbying to make the music industry to stick warning labels on the front cover of tapes and CD's and lyrics on the insert.
Even their ratings system didn't clean up TV either. It's become an annoyance. At first I wasn't bothered by it, now the ratings box is 30% bigger and takes up 1/4 of the screen.
This technology exists. My tv shows a rating for every program and I have everything blocked from PG-13 and up. That blocks a huge portion of my channels. If I started the block at PG, I'd have 6 channels. It's preposterous.
It has been suggested here that I throw out my TV but, that's not practical. Besides, I homeschool my daughters and some programs on Discovery Channel, History Channel, Science Channel, etc. are invaluable teaching tools.
Yes, the industry needs to keep itself in check. If they don't, we need to speak up and complain.
My main point is that a line has to be drawn somewhere and soon. If we don't, before you know it we'll be seeing live rape shows and snuff films on the adult channels. Will we still be saying, "Just turn it off" then?
"If TV shows were graded, PG, PG-13, X, XX, XXX, the next logical step could be that individual TV sets could be programmed to show only PG or PG-13."
Obama doesn't know what the hell he's talking about. Liberals have taken us down this road 2 or 3 times and each time it's failed.
They've been doing that for almost 10 years now. The TV industry figures viewers are smart enough to know the difference between a program rated "Y7" and "TV-PG". Obviously most aren't, and they are the ones raising a ruckus.
Oh, believe me, I don't trust them to do the right thing either. He's got his agenda. However, the fact that he actually said those things brings much needed attention to this very important issue.
His agenda is to make you angrier.
However, the fact that he actually said those things brings much needed attention to this very important issue.
He's pandering. Plain and simple. I guarantee you, the TV will be screwed up even more once the government finishes tinkering with it yet again.
Parents need to be parents.
"I guarantee you, the TV will be screwed up even more once the government finishes tinkering with it yet again."
TV is not screwed up because of gov't tinkering, it's screwed up because the industry doesn't admit that their garbage is injuring children and they rake in the bucks because people just gobble up the trash.
When anyone complains, we're told, "If you don't like it, just turn it off." We're beyond being able to turn it off. It's pervasive... like a cancer.
Yes, it is.
it's screwed up because the industry doesn't admit that their garbage is injuring children and they rake in the bucks because people just gobble up the trash.
So what? They're in the business of making money, whether you like it or not, is irrelevant.
Gov't is responsible? How so?
And, oh please, we're all in the business of making money. That doesn't excuse us from personal and/or corporate responsiblity to do the right thing for our community.
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TV is not screwed up because of gov't tinkering
Yes, it is.
it's screwed up because the industry doesn't admit that their garbage is injuring children and they rake in the bucks because people just gobble up the trash.
So what? They're in the business of making money, whether you like it or not, is irrelevant.
Senator Obama reminds me of hundreds of lawyers I've worked with - speaks very slowly and deliberately and is just an empty suit.
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