It looks obvious

Yesterday, after I got back from the rally, I received the new book Radicals for Capitalism - which seems to be a comprehensive history of the libertarian movement in USA. I’m sharing this excitement with you only because in the introduction of the book the author, Brian Doherty, argues that the Libertarian movement and Libertarian ideas has increasing influence on the American thinking and policy making.

While such analysis, which I’m sure will be backed up with fact through the book, is very pleasing news reports like this casting strong doubt about the direction our political culture heading. It is no secret that I have very little good things to say about the FCC but this case is a perfect example for how dangerous is the FCC.

Firstly it is the simple matter of further limiting the freedom of speech:

And it is not only the fading of the first amendment right, it is the conception behind it - which is truly shared between both major parties - the concept that the government not only knows better but that people cannot be responsible for themselves:

However this is not the only issue hidden in this story. The commissioners, and the FCC’s chairman Martin leading the pack, believe that it is their job to manage the industry and to decide for companies which business plan should they adopt:

 One might even suspect that such decision are influence by favorite some companies interest over others, but It may be just a personal impression. While such intervention, in the ways companies offer their service, had some justification when you regulate a monopoly (such as the historical AT & T) it has none of it when the market is wide open for competition. Consumer can choose between different technologies, prices and channel packaging as they like without the FCC imposing their view of what is best.

And like a monster that can get enough, the FCC is looking to expand the scoop of companies it regulate:

Forgetting the original reason the FCC start regulating broadcasting, the scarcity of broadcasting channels, it is not only keeping artificial scarcity conditions but also expand its power to the cable companies which aren’t using the airwaves at all.

What is completely amazing is that some people really thing it is a good thing to invite them to do the same to the Internet…

And one last remark - Yesterday I participated in a rally, pleading the Egyptian government to release a young person from jail which his only crime was to assume that he has the freedom to criticize his government. We are still far away from this situation here in America, but if we will not fight against initiatives like the one described here, if we will let the government protect our "innocence" we are surely going to end up with similar cases here. I’m generally suspicious about people who knows better what is good for me, and I’m most afraid from people who trying to protect my morality, mostly when its the people that are holding the guns.

Technorati Tags: The Decency Act - The FCC - Freedom of Speech - The First Amendment - The Free Market