Advertising Age says we are a nation not of red versus blue but of a “moral minority” versus an “edgy elite.” And the moral minority is winning. Let us recite the litany of America’s new official religion: “This mad race to the bottom,” in the pronouncement of one member of the Federal Communications Commission, began when Bono said “f—ing brilliant” at the Golden Globes and when Janet Jackson’s silver-studded globe invaded the family fun of the Super Bowl. Which begat politically panicked FCC chairman Michael Powell—Mr. Media Deregulation, and son of Colin—suddenly embracing government regulation of content (read: censorship). Which begat a congressional orgy of legislation to multiply broadcast indecency fines—from $27,500 to $275,000, then $500,000, then $3 million.
