From: Rafal Smigrodzki (rms2g@virginia.edu)
Date: Fri Aug 23 2002 - 08:34:54 MDT
Chuck Kuecker wrote:
Whatever happened to "I own this radio station, and I don't want to air
your views"?
Freedom of speech does not extend to forcing others to print or air your
words...despite federal laws requiring "equal time" and such.
### This is indeed true but hardly relevant to the case at hand.
Let me present my analysis: The owners of the station knew very well what
kind of content is being offered on the show. They knew that the authors
encourage having sex in all kinds of risky situations, including legally
risky ones. This apparently didn't bother them, and the popularity of the
show increased their ad revenue. It is hard to imagine that the owners had
any moralistic attitude about the content. Now, in a situation where thanks
to gratuitous media exposure the monetary value of the show is greater, the
show was axed. A rational businessman wouldn't do it. The owners are no
prigs, either. So why did they stop the show?
I'd say, the only explanation is the threat of losing their license, which
is a form of censorship. The FCC employees involved in this attack on free
speech should be fired, all of them. The shock jocks would soon return to
the airwaves, where they belong. And the religious ones can always listen to
their Sunday school broadcasts.
Rafal
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