Your Government at Work: No More Loud Commercials

As you're probably aware, the United State of America is in a pretty serious rut. Face it: We're kinda screwed. But, there is hope: In the coming week, Congress is likely to pass the Commercial Advertising Loudness Mitigation Act (CALM), which "should finally ban TV ads that blare louder than the programs they interrupt." Yeah, on second thought, we're still screwed.

Per The Wall Street Journal:

The CALM Act is slated for a final House vote this week, winning precious time in a December lame-duck session alongside issues including middle-class tax cuts and funding the federal government. In September the measure was addressed by the Senate, where dozens of bills have died this year amid partisan strife. It broke the political gridlock long enough to pass by unanimous consent.

Because if there's one thing Democrats and Republicans can agree on, it's the loudness of television commercials? Good thing CALM wasn't a legislative measure about tax cuts or budget considerations, otherwise it would have probably gotten filibustered.

Anyway! If you're one of the millions of Americans who will lose their unemployment benefits on Thursday, at least you can take solace in the fact that TV commercials won't be too loud sometime in the future. U-S-A!

· Well, Hush My Mouth: Congress Is Moving Against LOUD Ads [WSJ]