If one has enough disposable income one can choose to buy oneself a satellite dish or cable TV service. Those who can’t afford those options (or choose not to buy them,) are collectively viewed by the federal government as a six year old child.

The FCC has created a system where broadcast stations are unable to air realistic, edgy material for fear of fines and other less obvious consequences. Case in point- Saving Private Ryan.

More than 20 ABC affiliates have decided not to air Saving Private Ryan for fear of reprisal from the FCC.

When Bono said the word “fucking” during the 2003 Golden Globe awards the FCC ruled that use of the word was “indecent and profane.” Since the word “fuck” appears in various forms throughout SPR it would appear that this movie is, by definition, indecent and profane. I can understand why the ABC affiliates would hesitate.

When ABC asked the FCC to clear their SPR broadcast they refused, saying they only act on complaints. To do otherwise would be censorship. So broadcasters aren’t allowed to ask where the line is, but once they cross it they’re fined millions. If they don’t pay up right away the FCC exerts pressure on other facets of their business until they pay.

Quite a scam Colin Powell’s son is running over there.

So it comes down to this: We live in a country where a federal body decides what the American public can and cannot see, not directly, but through threats and intimidation. The segment of the population most directly effected by this regulation? The poor.

Which all makes me wonder- when will we start legislating C-sections so that newborns aren’t exposed to female genitalia at birth?

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