Why Does The Government Fear Free Speech?

from the it-cuts-both-ways? dept

Tue, Nov 22nd 2011 7:20am — Mike Masnick

I don't think we've ever had a single comic submitted as many times as people submitted this recent Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal comic, entitled It Cuts Both Ways:

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Filed Under: censorship, comic, free speech, saturday morning breakfast cereal

38 Comments

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Joe Publius (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 7:33am

Hear, Hear!
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ken (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 7:35am

Just like the saying goes "you have tyranny when the people fear their government and you have freedom when government fears the people."
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Blaine (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 7:37am

Works for privacy to
They want to take naked pictures of us at the airport.

They don't want us to video the 'authoritay' figures
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pixelpusher220 (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 7:48am

Speech is power. They don't like the competition :) (And I'm very much a left-wing liberal!)
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Jay (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 7:49am

Re: Works for privacy to
Yep, then they have to be responsible for their actions.
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:Lobo Santo (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 7:55am

Re: Organized Crime
That's the exact same reason why the government cracks down on organized crime. They just can't stand the competition.
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Designerfx (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 8:09am

Re: Works for privacy to
umm, did you forget? the laws were written with a free pass to all of congress. Congress will never get scanned because they are exempt. Techdirt covered this before at http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101119/14485711948/why-congress-isnt-so-concerned-with-tsa-nude-s cans-gropes-they-get-to-skip-them.shtml
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Designerfx (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 8:09am

Re: Re: Works for privacy to
replace the tsa scanning with anything, as is the case a majority of the time. Congress gets a free pass and so has no idea XYZ is an issue.
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Nov 2011 @ 8:09am

Re:
+1
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Nov 2011 @ 8:11am

Christ, this is as lame as Nina Paley's drivel.
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Anonymouse, 22 Nov 2011 @ 8:22am

Re:
Guess pink AC doesn't agree... He/She should post his/her real name then, since they have nothing to hide of course.
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Hulser (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 8:25am

It also cuts another way
Based on the title, I thought they were going to reference the "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear." line.
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Nov 2011 @ 8:35am

Re: Re:
Oh, OK- It's Anonymouse II. Does that make it better?
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PaulT (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 8:38am

Re:
Let's see your work.
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anonymous, 22 Nov 2011 @ 8:40am

'truer words spoken in jest', as the saying goes!
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CJ (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 8:41am

to quote them...
"Do as I say, and not as I do."
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E. Zachary Knight (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 8:47am

Re: Re: Works for privacy to
When Congress is exempt from a law, that law should immediately be called into question.
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mike allen (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 9:00am

Governments dont like free speech (even though some give lip service) you can only criticise what we tell you to criticise. YOU CANT CRITICISE THE GOVERNMENT WE ARE ALWAYS RIGHT evil laugh.
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RevCharlie (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 9:02am

Freedom of Speach
TSA originally called Federal Air Transit Airport Security Service � You can work out the acronym � discovered when the jackets were printed that this was too descriptive.
�People should not fear their government; the government should fear the people�� We live in fear of the government that should work for us, and that we allowed to become our nemesis. There is no longer freedom of speech; political correctness killed it.
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Joe Publius (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 9:03am

Won't someone think of the children?
If our government doesn't start censoring now, they won't be used to it by the time they grow up! What will happen then?
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gorehound (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 9:04am

Just wait till the SOPA & PROTECT-IP ACT get signed by a bunch of asshole paid-off Politicians.Then I hope there will be civil unrest.I hate to see it in the Country I love but if this country opens the door to Censorship even a crack I hope they rue the day they done it.
My mom said to me : You make the bed you sleep in.She was right on with that statement in my life.The government is treading a thin line with this BS.

Throw them Rotten Politicians all out I say and so do millions of others.
End Money Lobbying
End Big Money Donations to Politicians/PAC Groups and other Political Groups/Political Parties
Set Term Limits
End Corruption
Vote Smarter in 2012
Maybe even force Democrats and Republicans out with new faces or Parties
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ECA (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 9:05am

For all the..
I believe in being EQUAL, from bottom to top.

For all the benefit our gov has..
They get to USE the stock exchange, as if knowing whats happening BEFORE it does.
retirement EQUAL to their WAGE.
LAW? what law, if you make regulations on FOLLOWING THEM..
Able to write off, living and travel expenses, 100%...

DONT we employ them??
ARNT they EMPLOYEES??
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RevCharlie (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 9:06am

Free Speach
TSA originally called Federal Air Transit Airport Security Service � You can work out the acronym � discovered when the jackets were printed that this was too descriptive.

�People should not fear their government; the government should fear the people�� We live in fear of the government that should work for us, and that we allowed to become our nemesis. There is no longer freedom of speech; political correctness killed it.
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Richard (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 9:10am

Re:
Christ, this is as lame as Nina Paley's drivel.

Why?
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Nov 2011 @ 9:13am

Re:
What will happen then?

The worst thing imaginable: Our elected representatives might actually have to do their jobs!
Can you imagine them having to actually learn about an issue before writing laws regulating it? Having to care about the opinions of their constituents? Having to actually make good decisions, instead of just doing whatever gets them the most bribes and ignoring the consequences? The horror!
Won't someone think of the politicians?
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jeremy7600 (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 9:16am

Re: Re:
Because its true, of course. The truth hurts, and they know it just as well as anyone else. When you can't dispute the message, you attack the messenger.
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John Doe, 22 Nov 2011 @ 9:18am

Re: Re: Re: Works for privacy to
TFTFY:

When Congress is exempt from a law, that law should immediately be repealed.
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Nov 2011 @ 9:29am

Don't vote smarter, DON'T VOTE! It's not like you get any say in the laws that are passed any way.
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Nov 2011 @ 9:30am

Re: Re: Organized Crime
The CIA used to sell crack you know (watch the documentary, The American Drug War).
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Chris, 22 Nov 2011 @ 9:34am

South African Secrecy Bill Passed TODAY
This makes me so sad...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/8907057/South-Africa-pa sses-secrecy-bill.html
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Nov 2011 @ 10:04am

Re:
Where is the Occupy/Outrage from �left-wing liberals� about this President's DOJ attacks on Free Speech? (your honor, the defendant opened the door) Just search DOJ on TechDirt to get an eye-full.

Not to mention the insider trading by liberals. Yea, yea, R�s are doing it too & they're �bad�, but I thought the liberals where morally superior and knew how to stand for the people? Oh, yea, I forgot, when you�re in power, the truth is to be shut down by your DOJ and powerful friends.

The Truth will set you free, but it will piss you off first.
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John Fenderson (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 10:26am

Re:
Yeah, because as powerless as we may be, not voting at all will surely improve that problem.

/sarc
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CJ (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 10:31am

They fear free speech because they can't control it.

Free speech gives the public a voice to point out corruption that would remain hidden otherwise.

Free speech gives the public a means to object to what they are trying to push onto the public.

Free speech can give the people truth.

Free speech creates fear because the public may listen, and believe.

Free speech means freedom of the press, which means no Government control.
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Nov 2011 @ 10:36am

Re: For all the..
They write the rules/laws.

Who did you send to congress? Do you know your congress members� voting records?
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SiliconJon (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 3:36pm

The upside_down world we live in, where authority tells you to relinquish your rights - otherwise they would think you're a "bad person". How many fall for it? Lots.

STFU, Get up, and then blast the mofo'n air as loud as you can? That's with your VOICE of course, and only in this circumstance would I consider money a person or voice constitutionally, so you can throw as much of it in the air as you want so long as you're close to me.
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The Devil's Coachman (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 5:49pm

Re: Re:
Google George Carlin's rant on this topic. I think it says all that need be said. It is true, undeniable, and permanent. Game over, boys and girls, and if you think your vote counts, you're delusional.
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nasch (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 8:26pm

Re: Re:
Yea, yea, R�s are doing it too & they're �bad�, but I thought the liberals where morally superior and knew how to stand for the people?

Glad you've since figured out otherwise!
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ECA (profile), 22 Nov 2011 @ 10:58pm

i FIND IT ITNERESTING..
That the pilgrims and others LEFT the EU and Britain, for SOME of the same reasons.
No proper representation
repression
persecution..

revolutions in Britain and Europe happened for the same reasons...

Things started changing in the 70's. When they started getting PAID in comparison to jobs in the private market for CEO's...(Im getting to old for this)

The gov started to be taken over in the Early 1900's..tHE AFFECTS sTARTED IN THE 60'S..and REALLY hit in the 70's..
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