American Angst

As an American living in North Carolina, I am full of despair about my own country. How did we arrive at this low point? Consumerism has taken over the wheel and drives us dangerously into unknown territory. Recently Toyota withdrew advertising from the FX drama 'Nip/Tuck' because of graphic depictions of sex and violence on the show. A California group, Parents Television Council sponsored a letter-writing campaign to advertisers, asking them to rescind their sponsorships according to Tim Winter, PTC's executive director.
This news is revealing to any person in the USA who is concerned because it seems to offer some hints on change. First of all, people-power is still powerful, regardless of the lock of corporate interests and the 'big guys'. Second, the advertisers may be the place to apply the pressure. TV folks simply tell us we have the power to turn the TV off, which is true, but does not address the problem of widespread saturation of the exploitation of our young. What are your thoughts?