How long has the FCC been a part of the dark side? You'd think a federal organization like this would at least side with the public every once and awhile. I've been reading lots of critical theory (Horkheimer, etc.), which provides a fascinating lens through which to view institutions like the FCC and the corruption they bring to democracy.

Now, the FCC has instituted new rules to "prevent consumers from distributing copies of digital television programs over the Internet." Surely, you don't need me to point out the sole benefactors of these federal regulations--BIG, BIG business; specifically, those dollar-hoarding parasites of culture responsible for that schlock dredged up for the masses on cable TV. I'm worried about any tax-payer supported federal institution that "prevents consumers" from doing anything; especially when such preventions only benefit the insanely rich.

What's really hilarious about the legislation is the revolting tower of dung erected by the FCC to clumsily conceal its true purpose: "The FCC said the protections would help speed innovation and the move toward higher-quality, crisper digital television signals, which the government said had been thwarted in part by piracy issues." Nevermind the fact that these "pirates" and their legacies are the sole reason so many people have access to digital media in the first place; nevermind the fact that a thriving game industry (completely supported by "pirates") is responsible for multimedia; nevermind the fact that all big business has ever done for culture is commodify it--yet they lack the common courtesy to flush afterwards.

The efforts by big business to paint "pirates" in such a strongly negative light are indicative of a larger ideological war being fought between artists and those who need art. Now that artists are becoming farther and father removed from the means of production (which, in the case of art, includes access to means of mass distribution; i.e., Peer to Peer Networks), we have seen a rapid and frightening decline in the complexity and sophistication of all artistic works.

In my view anyone who decreases the profitability of "art" as sheer mass commodity is not a criminal but a hero. When we consider that those who crack copy protection or assist in the mass distribution of "intellectual property" (a term which is highly revealing of the feudalism it entails) are fighting for the sake of the same people who have been fooled into thinking that all such activities are wrong, we can't help but realize how effective the MPAA and RIAA have been at creating and maintaining an uncritical false consciousness among the masses.