Really?
I don't want to write about politics and the absolute incompetence of most of our elected officials. (See how that was carefully worded so those who think they are competent, won't think this piece is really about them.) The scourge of TV commercials that are too loud threatens the whole fiber of our republic and the U.S. Constitution so now the U.S. Congress has stepped in.
The new rule (the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation or CALM, get it) asks the FCC to ban excessively loud commercials that are above the average level of audio of the program on either side of the commercial. I didn't read to see if there was an exception for political mudslinging ads, but if I were a betting man, I'd bet on an exception.
Senators Tester, Baucus, and Representative Rehberg all voted FOR the bill. Actually you can't say that precisely, since every politician fought NOT to have their votes recorded. Each body's members approved by voice vote--there were NO abstentions, or recording of any for or against opposition.
There are three things about this that drive me crazy. One, there is already such a rule covering the proper levels of audio from all broadcast, radio and television included. That appears not to be enough. Two, don't they have something better to do in Washington to (fill in the blank with your own joke). And three, I really think they have all fallen on their heads and can't get up.
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