Today, a federal appeals court shot down the FCC’s indecency rules:

A federal appeals court on Tuesday found that a government policy that can lead to broadcasters being fined for allowing even a single curse word on live television is unconstitutionally vague.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan tossed out the Federal Communications Commission’s policy after finding that it violates the First Amendment.

In 2004, the FCC adopted a policy that profanity referring to sex or excrement is always indecent.

"By prohibiting all `patently offensive’ references to sex, sexual organs and excretion without giving adequate guidance as to what `patently offensive’ means, the FCC effectively chills speech, because broadcasters have no way of knowing what the FCC will find offensive," the appeals court wrote.

"To place any discussion of these vast topics at the broadcaster’s peril has the effect of promoting wide self-censorship of valuable material which should be completely protected under the First Amendment," it added.

Maybe it’s the libertarian in me taking control, but I say this is a good ruling for America. Having regulation on what words can and can’t be said on television is just one step on this side of authoritarian. There’s an element of personal responsibility that should be exercised, but there’s also an element of picking your battles. Hearing a curse word on television will not, in my opinion, harm a child. Besides, a child is likely to hear these words more often walking down a typical street than on TV. It’s just a word, let it go.

I’ll leave you with this, which may be rapidly becoming obsolete: