General Discussion

xchrom

(108,903 posts) Sun Jun 30, 2013, 02:50 PM Jun 2013

Putting Liberty at Risk in the Name of Order and National Security

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/06/30-4

In 1792, James Madison published a little dialogue between a "Republican" and an "Anti-republican" entitled "Who Are the Best Keepers of the People's Liberties?" defending the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights

In this playlet, the "Republican"—clearly Madison himself—is a proponent of Liberty. His answer is unequivocal: "The people themselves. The sacred trust can be no where so safe as in the hands most interested in preserving it.

The "Anti-republican" opponent, an advocate of Order, replies: "The people are stupid, suspicious, licentious. They cannot safely trust themselves. When they have established government they should think of nothing but obedience, leaving the care of their liberties to their wiser rulers.

Fast forward to 1991, the Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights. Alfred Sikes, then Chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), spoke at the Cleveland City Club about the wonders of new communications media and technologies that were then just coming on-line. In the Q & A following his speech I asked Sikes what threats these innovations might pose to freedom of speech, Press, and religion under the Bill of Rights. His utterly chilling answer was that it would depend on how much free speech, free Press, and freedom of religion "the public demands." In other words, if the people aren’t actively demanding these freedoms, they don’t need them.

***JAMES MADISON WAS A PAULBOT!11