Akkam’s Razor

[the next big indecency crusade!]

You may not see it in the near future, but the morality police are on the march, and are eager to spend whatever political capital they have left.

Ever since last spring with the "Janet-Jackson-Boobie-Chinese-Throwing-Star-at-the-Superbowl" incident, the Christians have been all atwitter about the morality of our culture, and the our most cherished and unregulated resource is right in their "holier-than-thou" crosshairs.

I’m talking of course, the internet.  So far, we’ve heard about TV and radio.  Those familiar with the sexual teetotalers will recall the same things happening in movies during the 1920s, music from the 1950s, comic books during the 1960s,  TV through the 1980s, back to music during the 1990s, and now, the digital equivalents.

We’ve heard them squaking about wanting to regulate cable TV and satellite (an important distinction to make - the FCC has the perceived authority of being able to regulate broadcast - ie. over the air TV - because anyone with a TV and an antenna can receive it - therefore, it’s the people’s airwaves.)  The next area they’d like to conquer is satellite TV and cable, you know, for the children (again, an aside, whenever you hear something’s about to be done "for the kids", look out, because that’s simply a trojan horse for taking away choice, assuming you are a hedonist and can’t control yourself, and your also an incapable parent.)  The other areas that stiffen their trousers are the "threats" to the sanctity of our children due to cell phone smut and iPod porn.  And of course, that great big Porn encyclopedia called the internet can’t be too far behind.

It’s  hilarious that the financial beliefs of conservatives state that markets know what’s best, moreso than the government.  Pornography in all its forms comprise BILLIONS of dollars of revenue, so clearly, some people want it.  So why do they feel that the Ned Flander’s of the world know better?

And to make matters worse, media folk such as Oprah and the NYTimes are chiming in with their representations of internet addiction.  People, let’s focus on the addiction part - you can get addicted to anything - swedish fish, adrenalin, clown porn, you name it.