The problem with liberals is that they believe that they know what's best for me and will protect me, even if I do not ask or need to be protected.  The problem with conservatives is while they agree I can make my own decisions, they know that my moral compass is broken and therefore they will do what is best for me morally and spiritually, even if I don't need moral or spiritual guidance.

This latest rant comes at the expense of an FCC report urging congress to do something about violence on TV.  Apparently, the show "24" is in their cross hairs. 

The report says that the commission can regulate violence by simply demanding it not be on when children might be watching.  Now, this would be great if your home only had one TV, but how many kids have a TV in their bedroom and could be watching at anytime?  And, what exactly defines "children."  Grade school?  Middle school?  High School?  

The report says that violence on TV develops "short term aggressiveness in children."  If this is true, then not only should you ban "24" until after midnight, go ahead and legislate "Gunsmoke" and "Bonanza" too.  In 95% of those shows, someone buys a bullet in the end.  Ben Cartwright and Matt Dillon have been shot more times than a target at an FBI shooting range. In fact, given their line-up of daytime shows, TV Land may be the most violent  network out there during the day showing both westerns and "The A Team."

The report further goes on to say that cable companies, who the FCC can't legislate, should offer "family tiers" keeping the offending programs away from the eyes of curious children.

The bright light in this wilderness is FCC commissioner Robert McDowell who says while he is "deeply concerned about the effects of television violence" he understands that the "first line of defense rests with parents."   Eureka!  Apparently everyone on the FCC isn't out to lunch.

Now seriously, isn't it high time we, as consumers, start taking personal responsibility for what goes on in our own homes and stop asking big brother to do it for us?  Do we really want John McCain, Kevin Martin or (gasp) Michael Copps deciding what programs you can see or not see and when you can see them?

Education is the answer to the problem. Continue to run the disclaimers warning people what the show contains.  Continue to stress to people that their TV has a "V-Chip" and that they, at their sole choosing, can regulate the content.  If you don't have a TV with a V-Chip (some hand me downs are pretty old) rent a cable box from your cable company and use the lockouts on it.  TIVO now has an extensive family component that will filter many types of programs out and even recommend some your family should watch. 

Continue to make it clear to parents that they, not their under aged kids control what their kids see on TV or surf on the Internet.  And you can continue to make people aware that if no one watches the programs they find offensive or disconcerting, the program will go away.

If you are that concerned about a wee one walking into the living room while Jack Bauer is taking out a terrorist, then TIVO the show until you know the child is asleep.  Or, if you are technically inept, try turning the TV off and reading a book. 

People who demand that government run interference to protect their children are people who are too lazy to get up off their dead asses, find the manual for their TV and use the technology that will filter out that which offends them.

It is not up to others, especially politicians, to tell us what we should or should not watch and what is good and not good for our kids.  It is up to us to decide on our own and then take whatever corrective action is necessary to make sure our kids aren't exposed to what we don't want them to see.  What goes on in in my house is not what goes on in your house and honestly, that's the way it should be.