Posted 4:57 PM by Gene

One last word on the cable oligopoly's cheap publicity stunt: if the biz had the honest contempt that it shows every day for its turnips it would launch a campaign called, "DON'T CENSOR OUR SHOWS!", featuring millions of "satisified" spokespoops saying how they didn't want Congress blahblahblah. Just two problems: America's ignorant advertisers might pick up on it (highly unlikely, as they want to be in with the in crowd, and as GOOD TASTE IS CENSORSHIP), and second, someone in Congress might pick up on it, and use the occasion to force the ROBERTSBARONS to justify what they air, perhaps offering up in a committee room a few choice scenes of what shouldn't be censored. I can see an exchange between an intelligent, forthright Congressman (I can dream, can't I?) and BRIAN ROBERTSBARON: "W-w-we have the V-chip!" " Yes, and you have the programs, and you intend to keep them on." "B-b-but w-w-we have the V-chip!" "And few parents care, and most kids can watch what they please." "Nobody's going to tell us..." "That's the problem -- nobody DOES tell you. AND THAT'S WHY PEOPLE HATE YOUR GUTS."

The time will come -- it won't be soon -- when the debate over decency takes a new twist, when it turns into a fight over how much media we UNWILLINGLY finance through ad revenues, subscription fees and cable tithes. Make no mistake: MEDIA RULE IS TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.

It's a shame someone with deep pockets couldn't launch a counter-campaign on the industry for all its depradations to our culture, our sanity, and our bankbooks. And I have the perfect motto:

"TURN OFF CABLE."

P. S. Nothing from STERNO. Maybe even he believes he's too much the industry shill.