Activists Dominate Content Complaints

A lot of noise has been raised recently from this article (Activists Dominate Content Complaints) on Media Week. (See Slashdot: Lone Activist Group Submits 99.8% of FCC Complaints and ArsTechnica: Activist organization responsible for 99% of FCC complaints.) The summary on Slashdot:

"Mediaweek is reporting that complaints to the FCC are rising. Powell spoke before congress, detailing that the complaints are up from 14,000 in 2002, to nearly 240,000 in 2003. There were only 350 complaints during 2000 and 2001. Powell failed to mention however that 99.8% of those complaints came from PTC (Parents Television Council). The article does mention he may have been unaware of this fact. Jonathan Rintels (president of the Center for Creative Voices in Media) commented, 'It means that really a tiny minority with a very focused political agenda is trying to censor American television and radio.'"

While the current focus seems to be an outrage that such a small minority is having such a large influence on the majority... I would argue the exact opposite. It is fantastic that the minority is protected and can make such large changes. There is a certain element of complacency in this country. People want to complain that their life sucks, or the government sucks and yet not take any action to make changes or even to participate. I think it is awesome that a group of people a) care, b) came together, and c) are making a change. It just proves that you can create change if you want to and are committed to it.