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Inspiration to start this thread: http://www.lp.org/lpnews/0410/libsolutions.html

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is being asked by more and more individuals these days to regulate the cable networks and crack down on more and more indecencies. (Might've had something to do with the Jackson n****e thing) Unlike a usual rant, I feel compelled to list some of the things the FCC does:

-prevents interference between broadcasters and eliminates the technical chaos that can result from unregulated airwaves (example= five stations in one county setting their frequency to FM 98.7, causing a jumble of different music to be received)

Understandable. By categorizing and licensing different frequencies, you have relatively no problems of technical conflict between radio stations in a same area. Also prevents "pirate" radio stations from broadcasting on an overlapping channel and completely or partially cancelling another station's signal. Most if not all of these apply to broadcasted TV stations (although there isn't as many of them now)

-regulates, censors, and monitors broadcasts and cable channels

Abominable. Free speech doesn't just apply to protesting current forms of government. People have the right to cuss, curse, and make indecency on the radio or TV. You may have heard many times that with freedom comes responsibility. Parents who want the government to monitor their children for them are irresponsible. This irresponsibility translates to a rejection of freedom, in my mind. Parents should be the censors, not the government, this not only feels like a better solution, but it is a better solution, because if you rely on the government, chances are, the government can let you down, and tax you at the same time. These industries can and will label themselves with rating systems if the people desire it. If a TV show displays filth or nudity, and someone doesn't like it, chances are, he won't watch it. Children's cartoons won't cease to exist, but instead, they will reduce to the correct ratios that children watch TV compared to adults. In addition to all this, some people simply don't watch tv, why should he pay taxes to censor my viewing? To end this on a happy note, I leave you with an Eminem quote:

i agree. t.v. stations can regulate themselves. if people dont want their kids to watch people cussing, leave it on PBS, get 'christmas with barney' on tape, or, here's a concept, do something with your kids other than watching TV. ooh ooh i know! read to them instead of talking on the phone while they're glued to the set. ride bikes together. go for a walk. dont be so lazy.
Big Bird was *not* my babysitter.

i get a good perspective of it. My little cousin katrina is awesome. she's smart, she's fun, she respects me. but...there are problems.
a good analogy is a dog that doesnt quite no whats expected of him. He's never been trained. He lives to make his owner happy, but he doesn't know how. I can tell this kid is frustrated cause she doesnt know what to do. her mom has her on ridelin and some drug for bipolar (6 year olds cant be bipolar unless its the result of some horrible incident that means she shouldnt live where she lives) and suprise, now she gets seizures.
Drugs and TV are the new way to raise kids.
Screw that. when i have kids, im chucking the TV and getting rid of the internet. my kids will ride bikes, go shooting, fishing, write, draw, and learn how to be descent humans. If they have 'adhd' then good-they'll be able to keep up with me.

Don't worry, eventually the generations that were raised right will die out and all the badly raised generations will be on an even playing field. =)

it's already to the point where most people think only crazy people go to the shrink.

they have no right to say what we can and can't watch

Now, for one...I don't like Scientology in the least. I am a firm Christian. Does this mean I support drugs and bad parenting to raise kids? Hell no!

The very thought of ridelin(sp?) makes me shudder...it is almost like mind control in my opinion, the supression of free will. And I also completely agree that the government should do no more than regulate the stations insofar as conflicting frequencies are concerned. For them to take the parents' job away from them...that is infringing on our rights as human beings. I personally agree totally with BonnieFlag on the issue. If people would just stop being so d*mn irresponsible....

I say abolish the FCC or greatly limit its power. Things are getting out of hand now with the conservative movement. Are we really gonna go back to the 50s and 60s type of TV? I don't think many people will like that.