> Yes, in Europe we're mostly treated like adults.

Mostly. But in many European countries, instead of fines you'll face jail-time if you broadcast words that have been deemed unacceptable by the government. For example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech#Germany

While in the US, adults are expected to recognize and counter those obnoxious and hurtful words with rejection, education and civil discourse.

Well, for Germans it's ok to NOT be treated as adults, because last time they played the grown ups they killed around 20+ million people.

I'd say, though, that there are far more words you cannot broadcast in the US, free speech and all. If not because of law, then because either the networks wont let you or because some people will "crucify" you.

I remember some years ago there was a huge brouhaha even because Janet Jackson showed some tit on a live show...

The point is, not everyone listening to a broadcast is an adult. I mean, the laws are completely obsolete, but there's a logic to them.

You've clearly never had a 12 year old spew all the seven dirty words at you (and some I had to look up)

What are you protecting kids from at this point?

You never set a standard based on a worst case scenario. Just because 30% of 12 yr old kids (btw I made that number up) are swearing left right and center does not seem logical to not protect the other 70% from swearing.

I'm pretty sure it does. It's like protecting them from idolatry or hereticism, at this point.

12? I knew all there was to know about cussing at 7, and I'm well into my 30s. Oh and there was no internet at the time.

To be clear, it plays uncensored over the air in the States too as long as it's on Satellite-radio or pay-TV.

The version I've been hearing on XM at the gym is censored.

Pretty sure that's unusual-most (but not all!) programs are explicitly uncensored.

Though I sometimes suspect that radio stations wouldn't play certain songs during the day if the average listener actually understood the English lyrics. (I'm from Germany.)