http://capwiz.com/parentstv/issues/alert/?alertid=8818551
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Subject: Protect the Public's Freedoms – Defeat S. 193 this Week
We're so close to a tremendous victory for American rights, and you hold the keys to making it happen.
I'm asking for your leadership to ensure the swift DEFEAT of the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act (S. 193), scheduled to be considered this week.
This measure, which has already passed through the Senate on a unanimous consent resolution, would increase the maximum fines that the FCC can impose on broadcasters who violate federal broadcast decency laws. We must ensure that "indecency" is an affordable cost of doing business for the mega-conglomerate broadcasters.
To make matters better, all of the major broadcast networks have recently filed suit to assert their right to broadcast profane language at any hour of any day. Clearly, the constitution provides for this, so I wholeheartedly support this.
Americans need your help to protect our rights from the graphic and patently offensive and profane groups who would seek to censor us. For two years now, the Congress has failed to pass broadcast decency legislation. Now is the time to finally kill this legislation for good, and protect americans from the abuse of their critical free speech rights.
Please vote soon to defeat S. 193.
I like using people's tools against them. 🙂
Free speech is cool. However, in a contest between Big Government and Big Business, I'm still trying to figure out who I should be rooting for here.
That said, I'll give my Congress Critter a call. Though Conyers is probably voting against this one already.
I'm not rooting for either in the end. I just want to support any free speech I can, even if it means that it helps people I dislike further ends I don't support. I think the entire idea of censoring naughty words and pictures on TV is ludicrous.
I do, however, think that equal access should be restored. One sided broadcasters really anger me.
Now you're talking. Throw in some more unlicensed spectrum in the microwave (preferrably in nice wide bands) and we've got ourselves a party!
Root for your right to choose your TV programs
Don't let the government choose what you can or cannot see on TV. If passed, S193 could set a bad precedent. Today, the government might fine "Without a Trace." Tomorrow????
Check out TV Watch, at http://www.televisionwatch.org, for sensible answers to those who believe that the government should control what you can see on television.
Re: Root for your right to choose your TV programs
Bear in mind that you're talking to someone who hasn't even owned a TV in seven or eight years. I'm much more concerned about free speech and censorship on the Internet than I am on the archaic one-to-many media of radio and television. Frankly, it's amusing to me the number of times that my stance on this issue has struck people as radical, when all that happened is that I decided to do other things with my free time.
Re: Root for your right to choose your TV programs
Point well taken, niteshad. Passage of this kind of legislation ultimately sets a bad precedent for all of us who hold free speech dear, regardless of the medium through which it is expressed.