Howard Stern, the FCC, and freedom of speech/ expression....

[usdm]

For those interested, Shock Jock Howard Stern is moving to Sirus radio
due to the issues He and his employers have encountered from the FCC.
He had a chance to engage the FCC Chairman, Micheal Powell on the radio.
Here`s the link:

http://rope.kgoam810.com/archive/kgo09.asx

There`s a bit of time before they get into it, but the conversation Powell
has with the radio host was a bit interesting.

[The Fuzz]

I may stand alone in this, but I don`t think people should be giving him such a hard time. He isn`t saying anything that I haven`t heard on the street or at work every day of my life. People don`t have to watch his show if they don`t want to. I understand the need for rules, and if he breaks them then he should be fined, but I`m just glad that the rules don`t apply on Sirus. I guess its the Cable TV of the radio world or something. That`s good. Now he won`t have to hold back and he can be really entertaining. Finally... A reason to get Sirus radio. I`ve been holding back because I figured there would be nothing good on. Howard is going to become more contraversial and popular than ever now. Like I said... I may stand alone in that opinion, but even if you disagree with me on his entertainment value, you can`t deny that moving off the radio onto a service that allows the whole world can hear him is going to make the monster even bigger.

[ALAN81]

Big Stern fan here and its simple if you don`t like what he says change the channel.Today he was ruthless about ALI so I changed the channel,im no different

[Bill D]

Yes, it is pathetic he can`t even try to tell a joke with no intent of being obscene without having to second guess every word he says. He`s funny and I enjoy many of his bits. I think more time ought to be spent pursuing far more serious matters and I wish Howard, Robin ,Artie,Fred and of course, Baba Booey all the best on Sirius

[shotime]

I can`t believe that so few people can change the rules for all. Nobody has the right to not be offended. I`d like to know who these people are that are forced to listen to Stern with a gun to their head. Last time I checked, you can change the station with the push of a button. I dont` like what he says all the time but he has every right to say anything he wants.

[rabbi]

Why should Howard Stern have the right to say what ever he wants when you and or I don`t?

[The Fuzz]

Why should he have the right to say what ever he wants when you and or I don`t?

You have the right to say whatever you want too. There are things you will face consequences for saying, but you still have the right. If we were a country that didn`t let you say what you wanted then he would be in jail right now. The reason he is going to Sirus radio is because the rules are loose there. Its like how Sopranos gets away with more than Law and Order does. Its just different rules. But like everybody said, if you don`t like what he says, then you don`t have to listen. He doesn`t intrude your space unless you dial him in. He isn`t like a telemarketer or a commercial that just shows up when you don`t want it. He isn`t porn spam that shows up in your kid`s email. He is just a very vocal DJ who says stuff that a lot of more repressed people think but don`t ever say. It may be crude and rude and irreverent and every other word you can think of, but as long as he is an American living in America, then his rights to say it are protected. The FCC can still fine him for it, but that is about it. Obviously the worst that can happen is that he is taken off the limited air that he has on normal radio and move over to a larger audience on satelite radio. I`m sure his audience will really decrease... Not. This will probably be the best thing he could do for his career. I don`t look at it as a bad thing. Its like saying, "Awwww.... Damn. I just won the lottery. What am I going to do with ten million dollars?"

Seriously though Rick... when was the last time anyone said what I could or could not say? Doing whatever you want isn`t necessarily freedom. That is anarchy. However, we do have the right to speak our mind. We just don`t have the freedom to choose our consequences.

[rabbi]

If there are legal or professional consequences you face when saying something then how is that a right to free speech?

[Holyghostfilled]

I believe in freedom of speech/expression. It`s what got Jesus on the cross. Though I don`t think Howard will get the same response. He`s into entertaining with words while Jesus saves with His words.

:ghost

[rabbi]

Fuzz, I understand what you are saying. I`m just saying even in America we do not have freedom of speech.Then again I guess it depends on the meaning of freedom.

[The Fuzz]

I`m not trying to argue. I just like a nice legal debate.

Name something that you can`t say in this country and you should be able to? We can say that our president is a bone head. We can call police `pigs`. We can dissent in almost any way imaginable. It is illegal to cry out `Fire!` in a theater. It is illegal to yell out "There is a bomb on the plane!" Those are good things. I`m glad there are laws. There are rules in place to divide the `freedom` from the `anarchy`, but you still have the choice. Acting without consequence is anarchy. No government offers you that. You aren`t going to be tried for treason just because you gripe about the government or anything like that. What Howard Stern does is pushing the line of free speech, but its not like he is being censored for his political views or anything. The FCC is just trying to keep the airwaves clean. There isn`t anything wrong with that. He can have all the freedom of speech he wants on satelite radio.

[rabbi]

Marge Schott, Jimmy the Greek Snyder, Rush Limbaugh are among those that got in trouble and or lost their job due to what they said.Every human being in this world has the choice to speak out/up. They have to decide if the consequences are worth it. Choice and freedom are two different things.

[The Fuzz]

If what they said was in violation of the FCC`s rules for decency, then they deserved it. If it was a termination in violation of their right to free speech then they would have sued. If you call me a `mullet wearing freakshow` then I will ban your ass. That doesn`t limit your freedom of speech. It just causes you to face the consequences of your actions. If you want to sue for censorship then there are laws for that too. The government doesn`t monitor DC. That in and of itself tells you that you have free speech. In a world without free speech you wouldn`t have chatrooms or message boards where posts weren`t moderated before posting them.

[rabbi]

Ok a hypothetical one. The CEO of a major corporation is a serious racist. He goes on a national talk show and just blast the race he despises. Although wholeheartedly he believes in what he is saying will he be the CEO in a month?I`m not arguing with you. I can only wax so much Fuzzman.

[The Fuzz]

political suicide is not a violation of your freedom of speech. If he believes that he can do something like that and still remain basically an elected member of a coporation, then he has some serious issues. The government isn`t going to take his job. That will likely be done by the shareholders and the board of directors. How is that a violation of your freedom of speech?

By the way, is this `hypothetical` situation in any way related to why I don`t see the Whaler in your avatar? C`mon man... you can tell me. :naughty What did he do? Did he go off on skinny chicks again? I can`t count how many times I have told him that it isn`t smooooth to call them names.