New Tools to Control the Masses

Just the thing to handle rioting students in the developing world, or peaceful protesters in the Washington Mall. . .

Clinton Abandons Freedom of Speech

ISLAMABAD: Former US president Bill Clinton on Friday condemned the publication of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) caricatures by European newspapers and urged countries concerned to convict the publishers.

What a coward. There's a reason that we, the United States, preserve and protect the freedom of the press - because it is essential to have as many different viewpoints as possible when operating a Democracy, as well as a basic human right (the right to free expression without fearing violence). But Freedom of Speech does not end becase somebody else is offended.

Now, I'm not saying the European Union is a democracy, because it's not. But civilized Westerners have been fighting for free expression since long before our Revolutionary War. The fact that Clinton would ask the US convict publishers shows that he really doesn't care about the values enshrined in our Constitution.
Clinton is backing away from American principles to appease the middle east and those in the West who sympathize with them. It really makes you wonder (again) whether he has any real principles at all, or is just a very talented opportunist.
Shame on him.

Change the Fucking Channel!

Unbelieveable. Now that we have the V-Chip (borderline fascist), cable boxes that allow one to block certain channels, and content ratings for television shows, the Christianists have decided that is not enough.

No. Instead, they want to make sure that I, an adult who likes my television replete with sex, violence and profanity, am not allowed to see it. They want to fine my favorite television networks for showing the programs I want to watch. And all this because they do not want to change the channel, actually use the V-Chip, or block certain channels from their cable boxes. All this in the name of "protecting the children." Instead, they should exercise their parental responsibility by learning how to use their V-chip or channel blocker. That way, they get the results they want: their children not watching "inappropriate" material; and we, the majority, get to watch what we want: our entertainment as ""coarse" or "violent" as we like it.

Their agenda is not protecting children. Their agenda is controlling adults. They want to stop the "coarsening of the culture." I want to stop their "infantalizing the culture." (TM). I'm an adult without children. Single adults without children are now the majority of the population. We should not have our entertainment options limited to whatever the Christianists determine is "child-friendly" (of course, maybe political activity is somehow easier than reading the instructions). We should be able to watch whatever we want on cable without their interference.

The rationale for regulating the airwaves is clear: they belong to the general public and are licensed to private users in return for public service (now reduced mainly to the weekend talk shows), and the consent to be governed.

As far as I know, there exists no similar, sound policy rationale for regulating cable.

To join the fight, please visit: www.televisionwatch.org Target="_blank"