I was born in a house with the television on

[cyrano]

So Senator Stevens, at the urging of the FCC, has decided to have a hearing to investigate 'filth and smut on cable television'.
I have said this before, and now I will say it with a larger font in hopes that somebody will hear me.
The reason the FCC has jurisdiction over broadcast television is because it is *broadcast* over publically owned airwaves. The FCC was created to manage a public resource, in an attempt to prevent the 'tragedy of the commons' where unregulated use of a public resource leaves it unusable to anybody.
For those of us who were born prior to the Civil War and are confused by internal combustion engines, cable television does not use the public airwaves. The cable it runs on (although highly subsidized by the government) is not technically a public resource.
No matter how much Don Wildmon would like it to be so, the content of cable television broadcast is not a concern of the FCC. Plus, cable television is sort of... voluntary. If parents think that A&E is a liberal hotbed, or that the programming on ESPN is far too violent, or that the Food Network is showing too many bare breasts during the family hour (chicken breasts are very offensive), then they can opt for the broadcast channels or (GOD FORBID) not have a television.

Thank you.

Further whinging about the car cut for space considerations.

Comments

[bumblepudding.livejournal.com]

Maybe you can help me out with this.

What's the technical difference between 'filth' and 'smut'? I'd like to speak accurately when I meet with my bible study group.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

Okay, technically speaking smut is a fungus and filth is a far more general term covering plant detritus, dust, dirt, decomposing organic matter and a wide variety of other pollutants.

[bumblepudding.livejournal.com]

Oh, so this is more of a tidiness initiative. I agree wholeheartedly; cable television should encourage good housekeeping. Down with filth and smut, I say! No one likes a cluttered coffee table.

Unless of course it's cluttered with people screwing on it, in which case I'll bring the wine. But we absolutely must clean up afterwards.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

I object to all this sex on the telly!



I mean, I keep falling off!

[gconnor.livejournal.com]

Yes, well, see you are attempting to apply logic here. Keep in mind that a majority of congresspeople are beholden to a party that gets most of its conclusions from non-logic sources. They tend to only use logic as a last resort, when all other forms of argument have failed.

[miss-friday.livejournal.com]

(although highly subsidized by the government)

Your quote above is exactly why government can interfere. Public money is being used to fund the industry, therefore Congress, being the holder of the public purse, has a right to know how the money is being spent. So, yes, Congress does have some say on what goes on cable, should the cable operators continue to accept public money. There is also the itty-bitty detail that the actual cables used by the industry tend to run through public/municipal lands.

So whether we like it nor not, Congress is within it's rights. The wisdom of holding such hearings? None. What a bloody waste of time.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

Hrmmm. You may have a point here. I will have to consider.

[odogoddess.livejournal.com]

So Senator Stevens, at the urging of the FCC, has decided to have a hearing to investigate 'filth and smut on cable television'.

Really why do I think this is just an excuse for a bunch of so-called "god-fearing" fundie congressmen to sit around, watch porn and choke their chicken? Then they'd make dyspeptic sounds and expressions whilst announcing that the material is filth, degrading and moreover, unpatriotic and they will do everything in their power to keep an eye on it (more wank sessions) and ensure other good "god-fearing" Americans aren't exposed to such pruirent filth.

Sometimes I wonder if they feel only congress should have access to porn, since they've already lost their souls. Then I realize that would be an altruistic agenda so it couldn't take place in congress. /sarcasm