Posted on 06/02/2005 1:17:06 PM PDT by freepatriot32
The Danger.
No bill has been introduced yet, but Senator Stevens has promised one, and when it arrives it is likely to come straight out of the Commerce Committee he chairs and move directly to a vote with little time for public comment. The time to act is now.
You can read more about this at...
Center for American Progress: Think Again: The New Content Commissars
Jammed.com: Transcript of Sen. Stevens' remarks on Internet "indecency" laws
DownsizeDC.org commentary
This bill would deny you the right to watch mature programming on cable TV for the sake of parents who are too lazy and irresponsible to bear the burden of doing their jobs as parents. Those parents who object to cable TV programming already have several ways to deal with this problem:
They can buy a reduced set of cable programming (this is the approach used by DownsizeDC.org President Jim Babka who has three children under 10).
They can no have cable at all, but rely on broadcast TV only (which is now heavily censored).
They can restrict cable to only one part of their house and not allow their children to watch TV there.
They can block cable channels they consider inappropriate for their children. But some parents, rather than take any of these responsible steps, want Congress to do their parenting for them, at the expense of everyone else who wants to be able to watch mature programming.
And, we might add, Congress has no constitutional authority for such censorship, something that should concern every American who still cares about constitutional legality.
Many Americans have excused broadcast censorship because the government supposedly owns the broadcast spectrum, but no such excuse exists here. Congress can make no claim to own cable networks, local cable providers, or even the TV sets in your home. They simply don't have the authority.
Why Take Action?
Please help us stop the growth of the nanny state.
Please help us stop the Congressional urge to turn the entire country into Disneyland.
Please help us preserve the benefits of adulthood. Please help us preserve the First Amendment.
Please don't reward the busy-bodies who think they know what's best for you and your family.
Please stop the political habit of using children as an excuse for extinguishing American freedom.
Please don't let Congress reward the whining of irresponsible parents who want others to do their job for them. To send your message to Congress opposing this censorship click here.
Why? This is a private company providing private services to its customers. If the customers don't like those services, they can complain to the company and/or discontinue the service. If enough cable customers are really interested in such an arrangement, the companies will accomodate them.
What you are proposing would be akin to the government telling Wal-Mart what sizes of light bulbs it needs to keep in stock.
Nobody is forced to buy cable.
Someone is forcing you to subscribe to cable television?
1st Amendment during with = 1st Amendment dealing with
Of course! That's "conservatism". </sarcasm>
Robert Byrd is a steaming turd and deserves every bit of scorn he receives. He is a waste of resources.
Ted Kennedy is a steaming turd and deserves every bit of scorn he receives. He is a waste of resources.
Trent Lott is a steaming turd and deserves every bit of scorn he receives. He is a waste of resources.
John McCain is a steaming turd and deserves every bit of scorn he receives. He is a waste of resources.
The democRat Party is a steaming turd and deserves every bit of scorn it receives. It is a waste of resources.
The Republican Party is a steaming turd and deserves every bit of scorn it receives. It is a waste of resources.
The difference being, I can ignore Howard Stern and he doesn't harm my interests, steal my money or my liberties.
No, that will never happen. Republicans are in charge and we all know Republicans can do no wrong.
I agree, but....
How dismal and debased does the broadcasting industry have to get before something is done? Or is there no bottom?
Pornography is all over television, it's virtually inescapable. It's also true that the more people watch it the more desensitized they become requiring ever lower standards to generate the necessary "pay-off".
Is public decency now a non-sequitor?
Is access to nonstop fart jokes an inalienable right?
In my opinion the "guardians" of public airwaves in this country have failed miserably. The "arts" community is an open sewer. If the're appealing to me for sympathy and protection, well, I'm sorry but I will not defend pornography.
That way, I only have to pay for what I want to watch in my home, and nothing else.
I was (past tense emphasized) a dedicated Stern fan from 1986 (when he was first syndicated in Philly) until the Janet Jackson incident when he went over to the Dark Side and became a lefty. Even after he started Bush-bashing after the FCC blow-up, I still tuned in from time to time, but when he started praising Michael Moore, that was the last straw. I have not listened since.
You are correct. Maybe that's what needs to be done... a public outcry.
I do like the idea of someone standing up for the decent people of this country. Like the other poster stated, it's really hard to raise kids nowadays when the sex and violence are EVERYWHERE you turn, not just tv. Just another sign of the times.
But, like I said, I'll rely on my rabbit ears.
The article is about cable television, not broadcast television.
It is hard to say for certainty where they'll go, in the past courts have consistently struck these type laws down. It's a lot better to stop them from becoming law in the first place.
The level of misunderstanding on this thread coupled with those who are rushing to welcome the Nanny State with open arms...is truly frightening for a conservative website.
Cutting and pasting means that people can quote posts without actually reading them. Read my response again and you will notice that I say that you have to drop out of society and form a bubble around your children in order to instill good morals in them. There are two pratical problems. The first is that no matter how good of a bubble you create around your children, society will still intrude. Your children will (and should) have non-Christian friends and they will learn all about Eminmen, killing the prostitute after sleeping with her in GTA3, thong underwear etc... The second problem is that being force to raise your children in a virtual bubble is probably not healthy.
If the Stevens/Dobson crowd tries to come for "Team America: World Police" Collector's Edition DVD (Durkah durkah. Muhammed Jihad) they'll have trouble.
its been proposed by someone high up, but i haven't heard of anything happening yet.
i love the idea. it gets irritating how huge of a package i have to order to get the 3 channels i want (history, sci-fi and home and garden)
Why'd you put thong underwear on this list?
So change the d@mn channel if you don't like it.
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