The GOP—controlled Congress is considering legislation to prevent consumers from fast—forwarding thorugh television commercials when viewing it on TiVo and other digital hard drive—based systems. If they give in to the commercial television broadcasters who are pushing this idiotic intrustion, then they will once again have earned the title of "The Stupid Party."

This is the sort of intrusion into personal life which will enrage countless people every time they are forced to endure a pitch. It reeks of totalitarian mind—control, forcing propaganda on unwilling subjects. The television has become the new hearth of the average household. The ability that TiVo provides to skip through the annoying intrusions of adverts is almost the only thing which keeps me watching broadcast television, not to mention the PBS cooking shows with their endless upfront product messages (don't call them commercials, because this is supposed to be "noncommercial" or "public" television!). Life is too short to waste it watching commercials. Or the boring and repetitive parts of others shows, also easily skipped through via TiVo's magic.

Since canny marketers frequently use "product placement" — sticking a bottle of Budweiser in a bar scene, or having Tony Soprano meet a cohort in front of am Office Depot store, with the sign visible throughout the scene — as a supplement to commercials, one can readily imagine that eventually we will find our fast forward function disabled when an identifiable brand name product shows up in a scene.

Wake up, Republicans. The campaign contibutions from the lobbyists are not worth it. Mess with my TiVo and you mess with me.

Thomas Lifson  11 18 04