Hands off the First Amendment!- FCC wants control of what you hear

December 13, 2010 06:30


The Federal Communications Commission think their job is to regulate the speech of individuals, and of the press.

By Henry Lamb at Canada Free Press

EXCERPTS:

“Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…,” but the progressives on the Federal Communications Commission think their job is to do just that – regulate the speech of individuals, and of the press. Speaking to the Columbia School of Journalism, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, spelled out his idea for a “community values test” to be applied to media outlets with every license-renewal application.

Copps is also bent out of shape because there are not as many black and Latino owners of broadcast stations as he thinks there should be. He wants the licensing process to insure that the distribution of ownership opportunities meets his requirements, even if it means taxing successful broadcast stations to provide a subsidy for new minority operators.

Could it be that Copps believes that the FCC is not limited by the First Amendment? Could it be that Copps thinks that requiring broadcast outlets to present content dictated by the FCC is not really “abridging” the freedom of the press? Or, could it be that he just doesn’t give a damn what the Constitution says?

If people choose not to listen to progressive commentary, then Copps and his buddies will force them to listen, by requiring broadcast outlets to meet their “community values” test.

President Obama’s Information Czar, Cass Sunstein, wants the government to “abridge” free speech even further.  In a radio interview he describes how he wants Congress to require internet websites that post political commentary to also post a link to opposing views. Sunstein says it would be better if people would do this voluntarily, but since they won’t, Congress should mandate it.

It’s hard to imagine a more effective way to destroy a free society than to empower government to control the flow of information available to its citizens. The crowd now in power in Washington seems to want this power – badly. They will take it, unless they are stopped.

FULL ARTICLE



Help Make A Difference By Sharing These Articles On Facebook, Twitter And Elsewhere:

Interested In Further Reading? Click Here