Bernie Sanders on "indecency," censorship and Authoritarianism

[Armstead]

(Release from Cong. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), so is included here in full as public domain)

This is what the democrats should be addressing, instead of trying pandering to the "traditional family values" crowd.

http://bernie.house.gov/indecency.asp

Indecency


Representative Bernie Sanders is extremely concerned about the growing trends toward censorship and authoritarian government that we are seeing in the United States today. Earlier this year, Members of the House and the Senate, as well as the new Chairman of the FCC, Kevin Martin, expressed their desire to apply FCC indecency rules to programming provided over cable and satellite as well as material on the Internet. This move would represent an unprecedented expansion of federal power to control what Americans see and hear. Unlike broadcast programming, which is sent into people’s homes over the publicly-owned airwaves, consumers voluntarily sign up for and pay for cable, satellite and Internet service. Allowing the FCC to regulate these services would, in essence, permit the government to control what content people can buy—something that even former FCC Chairman Michael Powell says is unconstitutional.

Just as troubling is the incredibly vague language which defines the FCC's decency standards. This unclear language has already caused broadcast stations to self-censor material because they do not want to risk receiving exorbitant fines. Extending these vague standards to paid programming will cause controversial and cutting-edge programming will grow increasingly rare. If Americans want to watch The Sopranos, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, or other programs targeted to adult audiences, the FCC should not be able to stop them. If we start regulating cable for “indecency,” where will it end? Will it soon be “indecent” for people on television to criticize the President? Is that the far right’s definition of “freedom?”

In March of 2005 Representative Sanders introduced H.R. 1440, The Stamp Out Censorship Act. This bill, which has 20 bi-partisan cosponsors, would clarify that the Federal Communications Commissions power to regulate indecency applies only to material broadcast over the public airwaves and does not extend to cable, satellite, the Internet, or any other medium. This legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

[endarkenment]

1. I only wish that

the 'far right' that Bernie postulates is behind the drive to censor every form of media distribution were limited to the Republican Party. For the most part you cannot get anyone in either party to vote against either more censorship or stiffer drug laws. 'Liberals' have no freaking spine, Bernie excluded.

[mongo]

3. There's a fascist element on both the right and left

that feel they have to control what the rest of us watch, read, think do , AND SAY.

You don't have to look to far on DU to find it.

[Armstead]

4. Liberals have spine

Centrist Democrats don't.

Bernie speaks for real liberals. Too bad the DLC power brokers have become so lame that they see him as a "far leftie" instead of the real champion of traditional populist liberalism that he is.

[dbeach]

2. GO BERNIE!

last of the few open minds in congress
censohip,authorirtarism,loyalty and secrecy are the bush family values..

hooray for them and to hell with the rest of the citizens
the uniter.. is a divider..

freedom and ignorance cannot mutualy co-exist for too long

[Greeby]

5. Woot

Go Bernie, stand up for our right to watch The Daily Show :patriot:

[Armstead]

8. No, John Stewart is a smutmouth

That will be the new line soon.

Even though he get's bleeped, they'll decide that just bleeping a word is not enough.

[wli]

6. it's great that someone's finally standing up to this garbage

Sadly, not only does it not go far enough, it doesn't stand a snowball's chance in Hell of getting anywhere.

It's sad to watch the last vestiges of a free society sputtering their final protests against naked fascism.

Hope isn't a belief, it's a desire.

[Armstead]

7. He goes very far

Bernie is one of the few in Congress who really stand up to the whole Media Monster.

[wli]

9. okay, it's "shocking" in comparison to the rest of Congress

Still, it doesn't really cut back on much already in place, but only seems to prevent further incursions on the First Amendment.

[Armstead]

10. This particular one.

But look closer at what he has been doing for aeveral years.

He is awsome and totally on target on the issue of media consolidation and deregulation. He has held Town HAll meetings and done a lot more to push the issue of media consolidation higher up the agenda.




http://bernie.house.gov/corporate_media/home.asp

"The media plays a crucial role in our democracy in providing objective and unbiased points of view.

Since Congress passed the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the United States has seen an enormous upsurge in media consolidation that has led to the increased homogenization of what Americans see, hear, and read. Profit has eclipsed traditional concern for the public's interest and brought with it a host of consequences. Minority programming, seen as less appealing to advertisers, has become increasingly under-represented. Budgets for investigative journalism have been reduced turning reporters into unofficial mouthpieces for the decision makers they are supposed to challenge. Programs with violent and sexual content have become pervasive while local radio has been replaced with formulaic one-size-fits-all content delivered from corporate headquarters thousands of miles away.

As a result, middle class Americans hear less and less about the issues that affect them such as the outsourcing of jobs, a livable wage, and affordable healthcare. Lost in all this is the fact that the public airwaves belong to its citizens - not corporations.

Congressman Sanders has been a leader in Congress against media consolidation. Come back to this section frequently to learn the latest on what's happening with big media and attempts reign them in."

[wli]

11. I agree the analysis is on-target

[Zhade]

12. Kick

Kick

[garybeck]

13. I saw Bernie on Saturday

spoke mainly about the middle class shrinking.

also about how his run for the Senate is going to be a massive smear campaign by the Repubs.

it was at the Democracy for Vermont conference. Will Pitt was there too.

[jane_pippin]

14. Great! Thanks for posting this

I just wish he'd have said it a few years ago when we had this debate in my media ethics class. :)

[Armstead]

15. He has been saying it for years

Bernie just needs more visibility, and he'd be considered a national hero, IMO.

He's a clear progressive who also resonates with working class voters.

[jane_pippin]

16. yeah, but I didn't know. I do now.

So I guess I should rephrase it to say, if only I had known about him years ago when we had the debate in my media ethics class.

I'm happy to learn more about him here and elsewhere.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. Durn lefty. Donchya know that he's a dangerous (gasp) SOCIALIST.

He wants to take your freedom away!!

[Armstead]

18. Send him to Gitmo