Congress To Investigate FCC

SirLurksAlot writes to let us know that Congress is planning to question the FCC on the way the commission is run. From the article: "The FCC — and Chairman Kevin Martin in particular — are in hot water with Congress... While Martin was at CES, telling all who would listen that the FCC will investigate Comcast's traffic-shaping practices, the House Energy and Commerce Committee announced a formal investigation of the FCC. The news couldn't be more welcome to the industries that the FCC regulates.'"

Comments

Re:The best Congress money can buy

[wiggles]

I'll probably get buried for pointing out an unpopular fact, but the framers never intended the separation clause to mean total rejection of all religion -- just ambivalence toward specific religions. It was intended to prevent any European style offical state 'church' such as the Lutheran church in Denmark -- where taxes are collected to support the church -- or the Anglican church in England. It's designed to allow all peoples to worship as they see fit, not to prevent people from worshipping just because some other people object to their views and methods. So, if a plurality of the people in a given locality support a specific set of beliefs, it is perfectly acceptable for them to exercise those beliefs through government, which is made up of the people themselves, so long as they do not infringe on the rights of others to worship or not worship as they see fit. For evidence, I submit an excerpt from a letter from president Tyler written in 1843:

The United States has adventured upon a great and noble experiment, which is believed to have been hazarded in the absence of all previous precedent -- that of total separation of Church and State. No religious establishment by law exists among us. The conscience is left free from all restraint and each is permitted to worship his Maker after his own judgment. The offices of the Government are open alike to all. No tithes are levied to support an established Hierarchy, nor is the fallible judgment of man set up as the sure and infallible creed of faith. The Mohammedan, if he will to come among us would have the privilege guaranteed to him by the Constitution to worship according to the Koran; and the East Indian might erect a shrine to Brahma if it so pleased him. Such is the spirit of toleration inculcated by our political institutions... The Hebrew persecuted and down trodden in other regions takes up his abode among us with none to make him afraid... and the Aegis of the government is over him to defend and protect him. Such is the great experiment which we have tried, and such are the happy fruits which have resulted from it; our system of free government would be imperfect without it.

Re:Cash Cow Concerns

[smooth wombat]

People like you and me aren't "doing our part" to "help the economy".

True and I don't care. One of my favorite things to say when I go out to yard sales is along the lines, "The economy would come to a screeching halt if people stopped by all this crap." Which of course is true. The only reason the economy keeps growing is because of people buying things they don't need. How many Billy Bass were sold when it came out?

I'm not saying people shouldn't buy things they don't need, we all need diversions, but think long and hard about how long you will use it. A video game, while not a necessity, can provide long-term enjoyment but only if the people who bought don't get bored with it after it 2 or 3 games.

At the rate I'm going with saving for a house, I'll be at a 50% down payment of my target price. Take out a 30 year mortgage to get the low payment then pay it off early.

True story. I used to work for a brokerage firm and got real lucky on a stock I owned. I took the money I earned from it, as well as money I had saved and the trade in from my then car, to purchase a new car (yeah, I know. But it was my first car. I'm allowed). My monthly payment was $100. I paid the car off in 3 years and am still driving that car 10 years later.