Maybe They Should Increase it to $20 Million

The FCC just took another daring step toward extinction yesterday by more than doubling its previous record for a fine, to $1.2 million (compared to just $550,000 for Janet Jackson's tit), for some pixilated whipped cream action on a reality show called Married By America. (What, you don't remember the pain you suffered 18 months ago? See The Smoking Gun for documentation. One of the FCCers' droller charges is that the episode was intended to "pander to and titillate the audience." Horrors!)

One of these days and it won't be long, someone will reckon that a legal challenge to the FCC's encroachment of the First Amendment could be less costly than coughing up the ever-skyrocketing fines.