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<title>Blogcritics Comments on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/</link>
<description>A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously.</description>
<language>en</language>
<copyright>Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors</copyright>
<lastBuildDate>Tue, 16 Jan 2007 04:31:37 EST</lastBuildDate>
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<title>Comment by teen on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-512206</link>
<description>%3Ca+href%3D%22+http%3A%2F%2Fadult%2Dfree%2Dcams%2D354f1.adult%2Dcam%2Dchat.info%2F+%22%3Eadult+free+cams%3C%2Fa%3E+%5BURL%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fadult%2Dfree%2Dcams%2D354f1.adult%2Dcam%2Dchat.info%2F%5Dadult+free+cams%5B%2FURL%5D%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22+http%3A%2F%2Fadult%2Dchat%2Dcam%2D354f1.sexy%2Dchat%2Drooms.info%2F+%22%3Eadult+chat+cam%3C%2Fa%3E+%5BURL%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fadult%2Dchat%2Dcam%2D354f1.sexy%2Dchat%2Drooms.info%2F%5Dadult+chat+cam%5B%2FURL%5D%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22+http%3A%2F%2Fadult%2Dcams%2D354f1.adult%2Dcam%2Dchat.info%2F+%22%3Eadult+cams%3C%2Fa%3E+%5BURL%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fadult%2Dcams%2D354f1.adult%2Dcam%2Dchat.info%2F%5Dadult+cams%5B%2FURL%5D%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22+http%3A%2F%2Fadult%2Dgyne%2Dcam%2D354f1.live%2Dadult%2Dchat.org%2F+%22%3Eadult+gyne+cam%3C%2Fa%3E+%5BURL%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fadult%2Dgyne%2Dcam%2D354f1.live%2Dadult%2Dchat.org%2F%5Dadult+gyne+cam%5B%2FURL%5D%0D%0A%3Ca+href%3D%22+http%3A%2F%2Fadult%2Dcam%2Dweb%2D354f1.swinger%2Dsex%2Dchat.org%2F+%22%3Eadult+cam+web%3C%2Fa%3E+%5BURL%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fadult%2Dcam%2Dweb%2D354f1.swinger%2Dsex%2Dchat.org%2F%5Dadult+cam+web%5B%2FURL%5D%0D%0A</description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jan 2007 04:31:37 EST</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by Justene on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74409</link>
<description>JR,

1.  If I had a clue about the Federal Reserve, I might be able to guess.

2.  It&#039;s not helping the consumer, it&#039;s helping the citizen.  THere&#039;s not a whole lot the average voter can do about whether Bush or Joe Wilson lied but they deserve to have the info and as much explanation necessary to understand the info.  I am asking for the same treatment of economic info as political, government, civics info.

3.  Voters wield power as a group.  Consumers wield power as a group.</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74409@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2004 11:29:14 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by JR on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74396</link>
<description>I&#039;m not sure how much power an education in economics will give the average consumer.  If I object to, say, China&#039;s political policies, the problem is in finding shoes or CD players made somewhere else; otherwise I can&#039;t really make any kind of statement.  How is understanding the Federal Reserve going to increase our consumer options?

Bueller?  Anyone?
</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74396@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2004 09:54:14 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by bhw on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74383</link>
<description>Oh, and Justene, excellent point about getting truly educated in economics. I wish I&#039;d taken one or two courses in it in college, because I really don&#039;t understand most of it.</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74383@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2004 08:00:59 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by bhw on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74382</link>
<description>Thanks for the link, MD. If anything, I think there should be opt-in filters only. In other words, the parent should have to ask for it to be turned on at the library computer the kid is using. 

Why aren&#039;t the parents responsible for what their kids see? If your younger-than-thirteen-year-old child is going to the library to do an internet search, it&#039;s your responsibility to monitor them, not the library&#039;s. 

And what&#039;s so magic about the age of 13? Seems very arbitrary to me.</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74382@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2004 07:59:59 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by Justene on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74380</link>
<description>&lt;i&gt;Strange. If a quasi-public industry isn&#039;t to be policed by the government agency empowered to do so, why should advertisers do the policing? Is there some reason to believe, say, McDonalds, is a better protector of the public interest? Seems perverse. &lt;/i&gt;

The basic premise of free-market theory is not that McDonalds can be trusted more than the government.  That would be perverse.  The theory is that the people, who truly hold the power, can control McDonald&#039;s with their buying power just as much and probably more than they can control the government with their vote.

Now there are a whole lot of criticisms to that, notably that the rich have more dollars than the poor, but unionism in this country has shown that the poor can use their economic power too.

Here&#039;s what I see as a critical problem, and I do mean critical.  Most Americans are economically illerate and haven&#039;t the slightest idea how economics work.  I have had that problem for a long time and would now say I have maybe a proper elementary level education.  Start talking about something like the importance of the federal reserve and my eyes glaze over.  

Most Americans understand enough about government and politics to form an opinion that matches their values.  Teach the poor and disenfranchised economics and watch real change happen.  If you believe the rich have too much power or if you believe that money rules in this country, you are doing them a disservice when you don&#039;t give the poor the knowledge of economics.</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74380@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2004 05:27:02 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by Evilwhiteguy on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74376</link>
<description>Sounds great to me, let me know when you&#039;re ready to go and I&#039;m there.</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74376@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2004 03:53:13 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by Mac Diva on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74374</link>
<description>A great tableau, Steve (Boom).  Whiteguy walking through his neighborhood with a gay man on one side and one of &#039;some people&#039; on the other.  I might break out a halter top and show the Ds for that-:). 

bhw, we were a test case for the minors and Internet access controversy here.   The Multnomah County Public Library won the first round, but lost the second.  There will be some censorship.  I haven&#039;t gotten around to reading the later case yet.   But,  you can familiarize yourself with the issues &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/front_page/1088597120233961.xml&quot;&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;. 

Which reminds me I need to renew books.  There is a reason I always have library fines.</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74374@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2004 01:24:36 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by bhw on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74364</link>
<description>MD, can you elaborate? I&#039;m not sure what you mean by &quot;carrot&quot; rules. Thanks!</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74364@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 21:40:58 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by boomcrashbaby on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74362</link>
<description>No problem, MD. Since I would be in the middle, just make sure those gloves are elbow length and bright blue, so they don&#039;t clash with my hotpants.</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74362@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 20:58:38 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by Evilwhiteguy on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74361</link>
<description>If they don&#039;t like the language used on their radio stations, they have every right to fire the guys, it&#039;s their company. Although I imagine that would probably stem from anticipation of FCC fines and/or advertisers leaving more than a corporate sense of values.

And yes, I had a problem with what she said, but I think she has every right to say it. Frankly I wish there had been video of it so people could have seen her saying it. That would have had more of an impact than just reading what she said. I may not agree with what people say, but I will always defend their right to say it, provided it doesn&#039;t break any laws.</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74361@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 20:50:56 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by Mac Diva on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74360</link>
<description>This reminds me that it is time to revisit public libraries and censorship of the Internet on computers.  There&#039;s some new case law.   You might also want to consider whether the new rules, which go the &#039;carrot&#039; route are a good idea, bhw.

I will march with the two fellas, on the left, but insist on wearing a glove on my right hand.</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74360@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 20:49:54 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by bhw on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74359</link>
<description>&lt;i&gt;The difference is that in the Slim-Fast case, it was customers complaining. With Clear Channel, the story did mention wary advertisers, but it&#039;s the government and a political organization putting the main pressure on.&lt;/i&gt;

That may be true. But it also might be true that Clear Channel has decided it doesn&#039;t like the language the DJs used. That&#039;s possible, isn&#039;t it? I mean, it&#039;s not like the words weren&#039;t offensive to, say, most people.

When I went out to your web site, it seemed like you definitely had a problem with Whoopi&#039;s recent commentary. I get concerned about free speech -- as Mac and Boom can tell you -- when people are less worried about some messages being stifled than others.

Personally, I think that the FCC should stop regulating what&#039;s on TV because we have the technology to lock out shows we don&#039;t want children to see. But the radio is a harder case. 

And there&#039;s no way the FCC should get involved with cable or other pay services. Ugh.
</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74359@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 20:43:33 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by Eric Olsen on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74356</link>
<description>you guys are both funny</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74356@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 20:18:58 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by Evilwhiteguy on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74346</link>
<description>I get to be on the right :)</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74346@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 20:06:14 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by boomcrashbaby on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74345</link>
<description>I want to be in the middle!</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74345@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 20:04:00 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by Eric Olsen on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74339</link>
<description>Context is everything and without hearing the actual bit it&#039;s impossible to know if there was any mitigating context here, but it sure sounds like Clear Channel let them off easy.

I favor clear and unambiguous enforcement of FCC regulations as they now stand, or however they freaking stand, but enforcement should be regular, impartial and across the board.

I am completely against the FCC regulating the content of the Internet cable TV or radio, satellite TV or radio for the reasons Evil states.

And having also followed the link mentioned in comment 1, I want to see Boom, Evil and Mac Diva march hand-in-hand.</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74339@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 19:55:04 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by Evilwhiteguy on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74331</link>
<description>Well, I&#039;m tired of repeating myself over and over. If you can&#039;t grasp:

1. If it&#039;s a legal problem, the Feds will take care of it.
2. If it&#039;s not, the market will.

then there&#039;s nothing more that I can say. And since you are putting words in my mouth that I didn&#039;t use and then based on that, insinuating I&#039;m something that I&#039;m not, I have nothing further to discuss.</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74331@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 19:39:38 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by Mac Diva on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74315</link>
<description>You now say you really don&#039;t have a double standard for your bogeymen and that you aren&#039;t really opposed to the FCC regulating broadcasters, whiteguy.   I don&#039;t see how that leaves any content for the entry.   Unless. . . you meant to write an accolade to the FCC and became confused.  Bingo!  I knew there had to be an explanation.

Typo in Comment 24 = after all.</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74315@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 18:55:14 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by Evilwhiteguy on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74309</link>
<description>No, that is me saying I didn&#039;t say the things you attributed to me.</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74309@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 18:24:26 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by Mac Diva on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74308</link>
<description>That is a denial of the entire entry.  You are saying you don&#039;t have a gripe, afte all.  So, why did you write the entry?</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74308@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 18:12:17 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by Evilwhiteguy on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74306</link>
<description>You seem to be putting a lot of words in my mouth that weren&#039;t there before. I never said I approved of what they said. I never said I approved of what they did. I never said I wanted the FCC rendered useless. And I never said that anyone&#039;s complaints shouldn&#039;t be heard by the FCC. </description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74306@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 18:08:25 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by Mac Diva on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74301</link>
<description>Well, that is an interesting evasion, whiteguy.  Considering that you approve of what the shock jocks did, why would you want them to be fired?  I thought you were being inconsistent before, but this ratchets it up substantially.

On a re-reading of Comment 3, I gather you want advertisers to be able to impact what is said over the air by pressuring employers.  But, you want the FCC rendered toothless:

&lt;i&gt;Sure, they should be fired, but not just becuase they used some words that offended some people. The first ammendment is there to protect unpopular speech. Popular speech needs no protection. They have the right to say what they want. And if people complain, their employer has every right to fire them.
 &lt;/i&gt;

Strange.  If a quasi-public industry isn&#039;t to be policed by the government agency empowered to do so, why should advertisers do the policing? Is there some reason to believe, say, McDonalds, is a better protector of the public interest?   Seems perverse.   

Let&#039;s also consider &#039;some people,&#039; whiteguy.  You say that &#039;some people&#039;s complaints should not be heard by the FCC.  You obviously mean the NAACP and Rev. Jackson, since you name them.  Why should their complaints about broadcasts, or anything, be treated differently from, say, yours?  What do you base your demand for selectiveness deafness on?  Furthermore, you do realize that you approved of people complaining (meaning a different sort of people, I gather) in Comment 3?

The concern with limiting the rights of &#039;some people,&#039; coupled with your gleeful response to Ms. Goldberg&#039;s situation, could lead people to wonder if you have an agenda other than concern about alleged misbehavior by the FCC, whiteguy.</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74301@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 17:49:23 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by Evilwhiteguy on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74300</link>
<description>I think they should have run the ad as is, if that&#039;s what the advertiser wanted to pay for.</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74300@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 17:46:54 EDT</pubDate>
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<title>Comment by boomcrashbaby on The New Gestapo</title>
<link>http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/15/022323.php#comment-74296</link>
<description>so do you agree then that their refusal to put up the billboard is the same violation of free speech as what you feel the jocks are going through? If not, then why?</description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">74296@blogcritics.org</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2004 17:36:15 EDT</pubDate>
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