We would probably be banned in Russia

"In America, you can always find a party. In Soviet Russia, party finds you!" - Yakov Smirnoff

I love the Russians. Every one I've met so far has been gregarious, fun to hang out with, and pretty light-hearted about things. Partly full of bullshit, but the same goes for the rest of humanity.

Well, this story reeks of bullshit in my opinion. Seems that if you are part of the Russian opposition, you can't even get on television. If you do get on, you get digitally edited out (sometimes your legs are left behind though). It's a clever ploy. One cannot say that you aren't being allowed to speak your mind, the state is just not going to allow anyone to hear you. It's no secret that Russia is not exactly rushing headlong to embrace democracy or free markets. But editing people out of broadcasts? That's just bushleague. I'd expect to see that on some Taliban-sponsored political show, right after Johnny Chimpo re-runs, not from someone quite as bad-ass Vladimir Putin (left, looking scary).

Media Consolidation

The FCC is going to try to relax rules preventing media consolidation again. If you live, or plan to live, Dews, in a big city, that means you can expect to read, watch, and listen to more Fox News than ever before! Yippee!

Seriously though, this is not good stuff. I always thought that the point of the media in a democracy was to get as many voices out there as possible to encourage the "marketplace of ideas." At least that's what I read in my first year Constitutional Law course in law school. The more voices, the more ideas, and the more informed the populace. Now we're heading for fewer voices, few ideas, and a less informed populace. If this isn't proof that the Republican Party wants you to be dumber, I don't know what is.