More late night thoughts on varied topics...

If I were President of TV, I would:

Reduce sports coverage by about 75 percent. As much as I love Wimbledon and skiing and watching a good nailbiter once in a while, there are far too many opportunities to sit around watching these activities. I think I did discover recently why I think men, in particular, can consume endless amounts of sports tv; it's a simple construct that involves knowing the rules and playing by them and then having an outcome where someone wins and someone loses. In other words, it's not like life and provides an escape from all those things that don't play by a set of fixed rules -- things like relationship and kids.

Onto a predominantly female vice now: chat shows. I figure we could do without these altogether, but just to stave off a revolt, I'll say, reduce by 95 percent, leaving Oprah and Dr Phil intact.

All the airtime saved from sports and chats shows can now be put to good use by running documentaries, adding an additional C-SPAN channel, adding a BBC channel, and broadcasting all those amazing foreign films that no one ever sees outside the Mayan or Esquire.

I like commercial free tv, so I would make a tax on all the corporate fat cats who have retained their salaries and pensions on the proverbial backs of their employees and their pensions. We'd have more than enough to run Ellen TV for many years. Check out, for instance, United Airlines CEO's annual salary and his 4.5 million pension that will remain protected when his employees (mostly blue collar) have only a portion of what they were guaranteed to retire on. Oops, sorry 'bout that!

I would require that an automatic detonating device be installed in all tv sets. At the slightest hint of any car, weightloss, prescription drug, or food commercial, the set would implode.

If you desire to be a part of my new tv scheme for America, please add your comments and pass along your suggestions. I have more ideas, but I'll bring them out slowly. Too much change, too fast may overwhelm the general populace.

Questions:

Since we're on the subject of tv, how about those erectile dysfunction ads. My question is, Why is the person in these commercials, the one who is discussing said problem with the audience, very discretely mind you, The Woman? As far as I am aware, I have never met a woman with this problem. Can the man not speak due to his distress?

Related to corporate bosses: whatever happened to fairness, equity, and believing that businesses were meant to not exclusively serve the greed of those in power, but rather they were meant to function as an institution in society which provided blessing for both boss and employee? When I see lay offs and situations like United and yet see those who are in charge still bringing home more money than most honest folks will ever see even if they win the Lotto, it breaks my heart, truly. How can avarice so cloud and bankrupt a person's soul that they simply do not care about those who make their luxury possible?

Observation:
I read a curious little fact about George Washington the other day. As the first president, he was offered a salary of 25, 000 bucks. That would have gone a long way in 1789. But because he was already a wealthy man, he determined that he didn't need the money, and turned the salary down. How I would love to see this happen in our time. To see people foregoing their own senseless gain for the sake of others. How novel, and how wonderful that would be. I wonder if W really needs that $400,000 salary and $200,000 personal expense account each year? I hear oil goes for a pretty tidy sum these days.

Wrapping it up for another night, folks. Please share your comments. I get tired of writing out here alone. Is anyone reading, I wonder? Issues on your mind that are worth batting around in the blog? Let me know.