All who question, discuss, or criticize the government must identify themselves to the government. That is the direction the FCC is moving in. Yesterday, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) ordered that all radio, cable and Satellite stations report the identity of all political ad purchasers to the government. See here. In the past, governments have …
Category: Free speech under siege
Jan 28
Turkish prosecutors seek life sentences for journalists who offended Turkish president
Freedom of press is among the most precious of rights. Always in danger, especially from governments pushing “national security” rationales. Now two reporters whose reporting offended Turkish president Erdogan are in danger of being imprisoned for the rest of their lives. See here. Of course, the prosecutors are alleging the journalists “revealed state secrets.” Specifically, …
Jan 27
Bozeman Chronicle Finally Produces Evidence of Montana’s “Dark Money” “Corruption”: Politicians May have Approved of Volunteer Efforts Which Political Police Liken to ‘Contributions’ (!)
The Bozeman Daily Chronicle is, arguably, Montana’s most extreme pro-government publication. For years, the newspaper has poured out steady support for government control over political messaging under the auspices of campaign-finance regulation. (‘The private sector must never defend itself from regulation!’) It is rare that one reads the word “shadowy” outside the editorial pages of …
Jan 20
Bozeman Chronicle Prints Headline Suggesting that “Coordinating” One’s Campaign with a Nonprofit Group is “Corruption”
The First Amendment protects political speech above all other forms of speech. But in Montana, there is a powerful movement of pro-government voices (not the least of which are the major newspapers) who support ever-more government control over political speech under the guise of “campaign finance regulation.” Montana politicians have been investigated by the government …
Jan 13
More shocking revelations from Wisconsin’s political police state
The public is largely oblivious to one of the biggest scandals in recent American political history. A tale that includes midnight raids by SWAT teams, machine guns brandished in the middle of the night, secret wiretaps of internet traffic, gag orders and secret evidence–aimed at suppressing inconvenient political movements. See here. And here. As many …
Jan 03
It Appears that China may be Kidnapping or Killing Hong Kong Booksellers
Shocking story from Hong Kong, one of the freest countries on earth. For a century, Hong Kong was a British colony. It has a British style court system (complete with jury trials), protections for property rights, and relatively free markets. Hong Kong attracted millions of ethnic Chinese who fled the mainland. Over time, the average …
Jan 01
Federal Trade Commission Issues Guidelines Purporting to Regulate Ads that Appear too much like News
Every government ultimately comes for all freedom, all property, all money, and to kill all who resist. The Federal Trade Commission, whose jurisdiction is supposedly limited to . . . well, ‘trade,’ has just published new “native advertising” guidelines for print and digital publishers. See here. The guidelines purport to try to regulate the publication …
Dec 30
State of Oregon Seizes Bank Account of Cake Decorators Who Refused to Bake Lesbian Wedding Cake
Ever wonder what it was like to be a Jew in Nazi Germany? Melissa and Aaron Klein–described as “devout evangelical Christians who own a mom-and-pop bakery”–are beginning to find out; in Oregon! In July, they were ordered to pay more than $135,000 in damages to a lesbian couple after they refused to bake their wedding …
Dec 21
Money is Speech. And this has been Known since at least 1830
by Roger I. Roots, Founder, Lysander Spooner University Over the past few years, I have become more interested in the topic of campaign finance laws, and how such laws interfere with freedom of speech. Since the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision, there have been thousands of published proclamations that campaign speech freedom will bring …
Dec 18
Saudi Arabia Prepares to Behead Teenager for Attending Protest
Every government that ever existed ultimately came for all freedom, al property, all money, and to kill all who resist. Saudi Arabia is preparing to behead a teenager who attended a protest rally at age 15. The teen says he didn’t even understand the nature of the protest at the time. See here. Like Joan …
