Glenn Reynolds isn't Very Libertarian

[Updates below.]

Not that he goes around trumpeting whatever political affiliation he holds. But he has made it clear in the past that he considers the label worthy of his political beliefs. Then he supported taxpayer-financed education and road work. Then he feared media concentration, though not quite coming out in favor of stricter controls.

Now, we've got something else and it's again on media centralization:

It seems to me that this proposal would answer any complaints (except with regard to labelling, I guess) that any parent could have about indecent programming on cable -- you don't want the channel, don't buy it. The cable industry naturally opposes this -- bundling the Celebrity Underwater Kite-Flying Channel with HBO is how they fleece consumers make a lot of their money -- but I hope that it's an idea that will come back. (And I can only attribute Hollings' failure to get enough votes to undue influence on the part of the cable industry, as I can't imagine any Senator's constituents opposing this idea.)

Yes, it's rare for me to praise Fritz, but this looks like a good idea to me.

Instapundit is referring to this article, which mentions:

At today's vote, Sen. Hollings also introduced an amendment that would have required cable operators to offer their programming a la carte, allowing consumers to buy and pay for only the programming they want. But he withdrew the measure after it became clear that he didn't have the votes to support it.

Praise for more broadcast regulation. And Mr. Reynolds didn't mention the item directly above this:

The prohibition on violent TV programming was added in an amendment by Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C. It would essentially bar "excessive or gratuitous violence" from broadcast, basic cable and satellite TV channels between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. in the interests of protecting children.

Assuming the legislation is ultimately enacted, the violence provisions will not automatically go into effect. They're supposed to be adopted only if an FCC study first confirms that V-chip technology and voluntary industry programming ratings that allow parents to block objectionable programming on TV are not effectively protecting children-a case that Sen. Hollings maintains has already been clearly and repeatedly made. "Monkey see, monkey do. Children will mimic what they see on TV," said Sen. Hollings. "I just couldn't stand by and do nothing."

If enacted, the measure would for the first time subject basic cable and satellite TV programming-currently exempt from indecency oversight-to direct content regulation.

Senator Hollings is a fucking menace to liberty; this is clear from the above. Yet nothing from Mr. Reynolds other than to single out the "a la carte" amendment for praise.

Hey, I'd love to have real a la carte TV programming. Even considering the free extended cable I get from my apartment complex, I'd be very interested in paying for the 5-10 channels I actually watch and leave it at that. Even cooler would be a way to pay for just specific programs as I want to watch them...in essence taking the premium pay-on-demand movie system that's been in place for so long to the broadcast cable networks. Subscriptions to single shows for the duration of their run. Innovative things like that.

But don't force the companies to provide them. That is none of the business of the US Congress or Glenn Reynolds.

UPDATE(7/23/2004 4:34pm)
First it was Hillary Clinton. Now it's private space tourism.

UPDATE 1/20/2005 12:25pm
Glenn Reynolds is NOT a Libertarian

UPDATED 9/26/2005 2:44pm
He hasn't been paying attention to An Intellectually and Morally Serious Antiwar Movement.

Posted by Drizzten at March 10, 2004 08:37 AM