From: jsp@uts.amdahl.com (James Preston)
Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv,misc.consumers,alt.cable-tv.re-regulate
Subject: Re: Cable TV Consumer Protection Act of 1992
Date: 1 Oct 92 17:57:32 GMT
Reply-To: jsp@pls.amdahl.com
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA

jack@myamiga.mixcom.com (Jack Decker) writes:

}No, but you can come pretty close.  No system of this type would be perfect.

}At least the system I proposed gives you some choice.  

But the system we already have gives you the same choices.  You delude
yourself if you somehow think that your TV-rating idea INCREASES the choices.
All it does is shift the responsibility for making those choices off of you
and onto to someone else.

}You see, I think some of you folks that argue this aren't really so concerned
}about this stuff being available to YOU, as that you want it made available to
}EVERYONE with no restrictions... including minors!  I have to wonder about the
}motives of folks who think like that.  

As I have to wonder about folks who prefer to have someone else make their
decisions for them.  Yes, I absolutely want "this stuff" available to everyone.
Because I believe strongly in individual responsibility; that it is MY job
to decide what is right for me and it is YOUR job to decide what is right
for you and it is the PARENTS' job to decide what is right for their children.
It is NOT the government's job to decide, and it is not some faceless 
committee's job.  I guess I will just never understand people like you.
Why is it so difficult for you to just stand on your own two feet and make
your own decisions?  Why is it so difficult for YOU to monitor the TV that
you watch and decide what is appropriate to watch?  Get a TV Guide, read
reviews, watch with your finger poised over the "off" button.  If you care
enough to put in the effort, you can do a pretty damned good job of ensuring
that only "wholesome" TV comes into your house.

}certainly no one is advocating the type of total censorship imposed by a
}dictator, but on the other hand, there is no reason we should be dumping our
}trash all over the public airwaves.

Yes there is, there absolutely is.  Because there are clearly people out
there who want to see said "trash".  If you believe that it is "bad" for
people to want to see it, then get your ass out into the world and work
toward changing people's desire for the "trash".  If there is no demand
for "trash", the profit-motivated purveyors of it will stop purveying it.
Stopping the "trash" won't remove people's desire for it; you need to cure
the disease, not the symptoms.

}I don't for a moment assume that everyone shares my views on this... in fact, I
}am painfully aware that many people now have an "anything goes" attitude.  I
}also happen to think that this is what is contributing to the decline and fall
}of America.  

I happen to believe strongly that what is contributing even more to the
decline of America is the lack of personal responsibility.  If we put more
emphasis on teaching our children to stand on their own two feet, to make
their own decisions, to accept the consequences of those decisions, we
wouldn't need to waste time with talk of silly ratings systems for TV.

}But as I say, I have the right to express my beliefs, just as much
}as you do, and I will continue to do so.  Liberals have NO qualms about trying
}to impose THEIR views of (im)morality on others (and I *DO* mean IMPOSE!!!!!)

You dare to say that when you so strongly advocate a ratings system that
would impose YOUR morality on the rest of the country?  You dare to crow
about your right to express your beliefs when you advocate instituting a
system that is the first step towards restricting that very right?

}yet you try to make conservatives feel like we should be ashamed of being so
}"narrow-minded". Well, THIS conservative isn't the least bit ashamed of it, and
}if that offends you, that's just too bad for you!

It doesn't offend me, it saddens me that there are people who actually
prefer to have someone else make the decisions for their lives.

--James Preston

Newsgroups: rec.video.cable-tv