Can we really claim to be independent when tyrants are allowed to conduct staged perp walks of litter suspects? - I would say yes, because we have a judiciary that will uphold the Constitution
When a police officer can ask other police officers to "light this fucker up," as Eric Schwab did concerning me, can we claim to be free? - I would say yes, thanks to other police officers who made me aware of Schwab's bizarre remarks.
Is free speech dead in Nazareth? - I hope not. The stickergate trio was arrested and publicly paraded in chains for the content of their stickers, not for placing them on poles and benches. Others have posted mush larger messages without any interference. Though I can control what is posted here; the government has no such right. Yet Chief Thomas Trachta reportedly even asked a District Attorney to silence this blog. "If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” (George Orwell)
Are we in trouble? I would say yes, because newspapers no longer have the resources to cover tiny boroughs or even some big townships. They have been the canaries in the coal mine, but there's only enough these days for the main veins.
Happy 4th!!
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
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Friday, July 04, 2014
9 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
"They have been the canaries in the coal mine, but there's only enough these days for the main veins."
ReplyDeleteGreat analogy Bernie. Happy 4th to you, as well.
"No government ought to be without censors, and where the press is free, no one ever will. If virtuous, it need not fear the fair operation of attack and defence. Nature has given to man no other means of sifting out the truth whether in religion, law or politics. I think it as honorable to the government neither to know nor notice its sycophants or censors, as it would be undignified and criminal to pamper the former and persecute the latter." --Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1792.
ReplyDeleteNaz may not have their Kazoos this year Bernie, but Bethlehem always puts on a great fireworks show. Enjoy!
The Trachta trolls are trying to figure out how to attack this blog piece without revealing they support tyranny when it fits their beliefs.
ReplyDeleteMy personal experience notwithstanding, you've made an overwhelming case over the past week or so. One that hasn't been substantively disputed.
ReplyDeleteThat case reinforces my position that the tendency to abuse power, a sense of entitlement, arrogance, and the need to control are basic instincts of the "public servant".
From this, your latest and one of the more egregious local examples, to judges who blow off the Constitution and implement their politically correct "interpretations". From federal and state officials OF BOTH PERSUASIONS who abuse their power to further their own agendas, circumvent, break and refuse to enforce existing laws, to school districts that extort and extract an ungodly disproportionate slice of the pie to "protect and enlarge teh trough at all costs"...
They are all as you've laid out the case against one. Some are more subtle. Others, including the last two POTUS, outrageously more brazen.
The worship and deification of, and the abdication of personal responsibility to government could have no other outcome.
You have done great work here Bernie. It will alleviate this outbreak but, unfortunately, no cure is on the horizon.
-Clem
No more anonymous, BOH?
ReplyDelete-Clem
Just for the weekend
ReplyDeleteYou should keep it to no anonymous all the time.
ReplyDeleteEven Bernie needs a break from monitoring insanity. She can break out at any time.
ReplyDeleteMega matt, no anonymous comments= a dead blog. Just you azz kizzers.
ReplyDelete