March 12, 2004
THE LEGION OF DECENCY STRIKES BACK:
House Votes, 391-22, to Raise Broadcasters' Fines for Indecency (CARL HULSE, 3/12/04, NY Times)
Saying much of the public is fed up with indecent television and radio programming, members of the House voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to increase penalties on broadcasters and performers who violate federal standards.Spurred by a racy Super Bowl halftime show, the House voted, 391 to 22, to raise fines to $500,000 for the holders of broadcast licenses and for entertainers, from $27,500 and $11,000, respectively. The measure would also force the Federal Communications Commission to act more quickly on complaints and move to revoke the licenses of repeat offenders.
"For too long, we have told the entertainment industry that the federal government is unwilling to hold them accountable for their actions," Representative Joe Pitts, Republican of Pennsylvania, said. "Today, we are saying, Enough is enough."
The bill, covering just content broadcast over the public airwaves and not cable or satellite programs, was strongly backed by the White House.
"This legislation," the White House said in a statement, "will make broadcast television and radio more suitable for family viewing."
You can't imagine this happening just about anywhere else in the West. Posted by Orrin Judd at March 12, 2004 11:23 AM
Does this affect rubbish like "Will and Grace"?
If not it's mere window dressing.
Of course all of the libertarian leaning blogs are up in arms with this "attack on the first amendment" and cite it as further evidence of the "Ashcroft police state".
I don't like government involvement but some standards must be set and enforced.
It doesn't take a heck of a lot of imagination to conjure pandering politicians.
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at March 12, 2004 12:14 PMAlthough I'm very angry with Janet Jackson, the reason is because of the surprise, not the "obscenity". If one listens to Howard Stern, one should know what to expect.
Instead of merely fining those who the FCC decides have crossed a line, why not issue "obscenity licenses", and then viewers/listeners can decide for themselves what to partake of.
Posted by: Michael Herdegen at March 12, 2004 12:30 PMGood idea, Michael, a way to raise funds, too!
Posted by: Sandy P. at March 12, 2004 2:46 PMWe're at war. Why do we have time for balderdash like this? More to the point, why is _Congress_ wasting its time on this arrant nonsense?
Posted by: Joe at March 13, 2004 12:31 AMWhy fight the war if we're going to destroy our own culture? The enemy is within, not without.
Posted by: oj at March 13, 2004 12:36 AMExercise the power of the Off button.
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at March 13, 2004 8:59 AMWhy? It's our broadcast media.
Posted by: oj at March 13, 2004 4:47 PM"Ours" in the sense that the airwaves belong, collectively, to the American people...
And those people have spoken.
What you see on the broadcast networks is what America wants, or at least finds acceptable.
If you'd like to change it, start organizing boycotts and letter writing campaigns.
Both techniques occasionally work.
Until American culture changes, Jeff's suggestion is very practical.
Posted by: Michael Herdegen at March 13, 2004 6:50 PMMichael:
It's a representative democracy, not a commercial operation.
Posted by: oj at March 13, 2004 7:23 PMYes, and the broadcast networks run national plebiscites every day of the week.
There's no purer form of democracy going.
Now, you might quibble with how the votes are cast and counted; The networks certainly do, when they don't come out on top.
Posted by: Michael Herdegen at March 14, 2004 7:12 AMMichael:
So since a majority are not watching any of these shows at any given time they should all be taken off, no?
Posted by: oj at March 14, 2004 7:49 AMOJ:
Nice use of passive voice. Taken off by whom?
Clearly, where the thumb meets the remote, the people have spoken. The networks are only doing their level best to put the sidewalks where the people want to go.
For those who don't like the direction, the networks are the wrong target.
TV garbage doesn't get into my house because the one-eyed brain sucker is almost always off. And I managed to do that without the help of a politician. Imagine.
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at March 14, 2004 1:52 PMBy the FCC
Posted by: oj at March 14, 2004 6:30 PMWonderful. You want put people in the position of having to negotiate with the government about what they are allowed to see?
And you accuse secularists of having statist tendencies?
If there was ever a case of the pot calling the kettle black, this is surely it.
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at March 14, 2004 7:35 PMNo, the government is already in charge of what they are shown.
Posted by: oj at March 14, 2004 9:06 PM