Begging for freedom


Why does the government give freedom of speech when it already belongs to us?
Ryan H. Sager makes some great points in this article.

The Fired Up! opinion may well be a victory in the short term. People running political blogs won't have to fear a knock in the night for at least a little while, now. But in the long term, the opinion is meaningless -- if not a setback to those who seek full repeal (congressional or judicial) of the nation's campaign-finance laws.
 
In short, the more the proponents of such laws can show them being applied "reasonably" and with "appropriate" exceptions, the longer the concept will stand that the government has the authority to adopt and enforce such laws in the first place. When a federal agency is handing out certificates saying who or what does or does not count as a part of the "press," America has nothing better than a system for licensing the press.
 
It was the monarch's standby, and now free-speech advocates are rejoicing that the monarch's modern-day equivalents, the FEC, are being magnanimous with their dictatorial powers.

That is my objection to the whole McCain -Feingold mess.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Why is that so hard to understand?

It is right there.

Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press.

It doesn't get any clearer than that.

McCain -Feingold is unconstitutional, as any junior high civics student could tell you. Any FEC enforcement of that law violates the United States Constitution.

Freedom of speech is not granted by government fiat.

It already belongs to us.

We are not dependent on government permission for our freedoms.

But the more we act as if we are, the more the Federal government will take away.

Government is not our friend. Government is not our servant. At best, it is a savage beast that must be caged for us to have the benefits of government being there. You can not trust it. You should not depend on it.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Wed - November 23, 2005 at 04:36 AM  Tag


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