There is an End in sight to the Evil FCC Reign of Powell

With the announcement of FCC Chairman Powell to Resign in March, the radio and television community can only be ecstatic. With Powell’s reign, he has allowed 1. “Powell led the Republican-dominated FCC in easing decades-old rules governing ownership of newspapers and television and radio stations. The commission approved changes in 2003 that allow individual companies to own TV stations reaching nearly half the nation's viewers and combinations of newspapers and broadcast outlets in the same community.” This only encouraged what has become a one sided media that is not allowed to speak badly of Bush without consequences, note The Bush Rule of Journalism. What Powell will be known for most is the complete and utter blatant violation of the 1st amendment. “Powell is perhaps best known for overseeing a dramatic crackdown on broadcast indecency that began before the infamous "wardrobe malfunction" during singer Janet Jackson's Super Bowl halftime performance last February.” Since the Super Bowl, the FCC has used Janet Jackson as a means (much like Bush has used 9-11 for his agenda in Iraq) for cracking down on anything they don’t think is moral or worthy of listening too. Unfortunately, no one in the Bush administration disagrees with him. What it does show is the complete lack of respect for this country and the freedom of speech that it was founded on. Morality does not belong in public policy. If it did, we would be fighting wars in Sudan where slavery is still allowed, and not Iraq. No, what it amounts to is an imposed protectionism on what they think the American people should be allowed to watch. Never mind the V-Chip or parents? Parents….It is up to parents, not the FCC to regulate what their kids should or should not see or listen too. Howard Stern should be able to say and do as he pleases. No one, I repeat no one is forced to listen to him. Or for that matter, no one is forced to listen to the crap that spews from the mouths of the Fox news channel. Bill O’Reilly deserves much worst punishment then Howard Stern should ever receive. However, no matter how bad O’Reilly is, he is protected by the 1st amendment. And I do not have to listen to him, and neither should anyone else that does want to. Those who want to listen to him, they have that right. Knowing Bush he will probably put someone even worst and under-qualified as Powell is in that position. Things could get worst. But today, I am pleased that at least Powell will be on his way out the door, and hopefully the FCC will limit its moral conquest to rid the American people of what it deems inappropriate. You need the FCC has been cracking down when even Fox will not put something out because they are concerned about the FCC. We are all in serious trouble then.

As a follow up, Frank Rich writing for the New York Times has written a wonderful article that has articulated the last year, The Year of Living Indecently.