If the folks who want to bind and gag Idaho Public TV have their way,
their next stop must be Idaho’s public colleges and universities.
Opposition to funding for digital technology for IPTV jelled in the Idaho
Legislature last year over an educational program that dealt with homosexuality.
Legislators reasoned that because the state helps fund IPTV, that IPTV should not
broadcast a program that some deemed unsuitable for public consumption.
IPTV tried to mollify its critics by warning viewers about the subject
matter prior to broadcast, with the idea that viewers could press the OFF button if they
didn’t want to see it. Then, IPTV broadcast the program late at night to avoid
inadvertent viewing by youngsters.
Nothing mollified the critics.
Upset legislators refused to fund the equipment IPTV needs to stay in
operation. Then, they passed a law to reign in the renegades at IPTV. Now some critics are
mumbling about throwing IPTV into the private marketplace to let it sink or swim, free of
government subsidies and restrictions.
Before this bandwagon starts rolling, the critics ought to stop, take a
deep breath and look beneath their feet at the slippery slope upon which they stand. If
the Legislature gets rid of IPTV, its next logical move would be to privatize all state
colleges and universities, unless of course it wants to pass a law to gag professors.
After all, in the view of the Legislature, discussions in these publicly funded classrooms
may not be suitable for public consumption.
Radical political ideas—new and old—are dissected daily. Deviant
behaviors are the stuff of psychology, sociology and criminology. Evolution is the stuff
of biology, etymology and zoology. Scantily clad models are centerpieces in drawing
classes.
If the Legislature is really successful, perhaps it can get Congress to
adopt a resolution to let it move back to a more comfortable time, the Dark Ages.
