Freedom of Speech in the USA

[xoxoxoBruce]

It's in the very first amendment to the Constitution for a reason. The people having memories in their extended family of the oppressions in the old country... any old country, weren't signing on to new oppressions.

I firmly believe Freedom of Speech is a good thing, however it has a downside, like all good things. It Protects the Westboro Baptist Church, The American Nazi Party and the KKK, from government suppression. But it also protects Peace and environmental activists, and most importantly it protects you and me.

The Supreme Court came up with some exceptions.

Restrictions that are based on people's reactions to words include both instances of a complete exception, and cases of diminished protection. Speech that involves incitement, false statements of fact, obscenity, child pornography, threats, and speech owned by others are all completely exempt from First Amendment protections. Commercial advertising receives diminished, but not eliminated, protection.

Along with communicative restrictions, less protection is afforded for uninhibited speech when the government acts as subsidizer or speaker, is an employer, controls education, or regulates the following: the mail, airwaves, legal bar, military, prisons, and immigration.

Up in a MA suburb, William Johnson wanted to develop a piece of land behind Jim Lyons' house. Lyons rallied the neighbors to fight the development lasting half a dozen years, and won. Johnson is pissed so he starts a payback campaign employing Gerald Colton who's described as a local hoodlum in the comments at the site.

The harassment went on for years, consisting of ads for free golf carts and a Harley, signing the Lyons up at nudist and LGBF websites, an anon email containing their SS numbers and personal info, and telling child protection Jim abused his son.

Colton got caught, dimed the Johnsons saying he thought is was a joke. William got 18 months for harassment and false reporting child abuse and his wife got 6 months for harassment.

The day after that Boston Globe article was a follow up article with this statement by bill's lawyer;


This whole thing is proof that rich people are clogging the courts, while the huddled masses have guns.

[sexobon]

Originally Posted by Dr. Johnny Fever

... So just sit right down, relax, open your ears real wide and say, "Give it to me straight, Doctor. I can take it!"

I almost forgot, fellow babies: BOOGER!

[BigV]

More freedom, in this case, the freedom from compulsion to say something, "...So help me God."