Yeah, Right, Whatever

The FCC wants to protect children, keeping them from seeing adult content shows on cable channels.

Sexed-up and profanity-laced shows on cable and satellite television should be for adult eyes only, and providers must do more to shield children, or they may find themselves facing indecency fines, the Federal Communications Commission chairman, Kevin Martin, said yesterday. ''Parents need better and more tools to help them navigate the entertainment waters, particularly on cable and satellite TV," Martin said before the Senate Commerce Committee.

Really? Parents already have the tools they need. They can use the remote to turn the channel. They can use their hand to pull the plug. Or they can use their arms (and legs, not back) to toss the tv into the trash. Oh, wait... that would require parents to actually pay attention to what their kids are watching. What was I thinking? N'er mind.

One of the ideas tossed around was having cable companies offer a la carte channels, instead of only offering bundles. At first, that sounds great. I mean, I think I watch 3, maybe 4 cable channels on a regular basis, but pay for a whole lot more. I'm not sure if I like that. Maybe a la carte bundles- a news bundle, a sports bundle, a kids bundle, an entertainment bundle. Something like that. Just a thought.

There was something at the end of one of those articles that caught my eye, and got me all confuzzled.

Kyle McSlarrow, head of National Cable & Telecommunications Association, called the a la carte mandate a “very dangerous idea.” He said it would violate cable companies' free-speech rights.

Uh... free speech rights? Let's go to The Document and see what it says.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (First Amendment)

I'm having trouble seeing how a company has that particular right. But, for argument's sake, let's say that they do have free speech rights. No where in the First Amendment does it say that anyone has to listen to them. That's the part of the free speech argument that people tend to forget.

Like I said, I'm not so sure about the a la carte idea. I don't even think the government should get more involved in this. Shows have ratings. Parents can pull the plug. Let them protect their children.

What a novel concept.