Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Freedom Of What?

So let’s see if I have this straight: Freedom of Speech means I can say any dirty, nasty sexual thing I want, and I can film, distribute, and make money off of any sort of sexual behavior, regardless of how explicit, obscene, deviant or whatever (as entertaining as that may be). But when it comes to political speech, which is what the founders were really talking about in the First Amendment, well, sorry, there are limitations to that. Like if I own a blog (which I do) that comments on policy issues (which I’ve been known to, although not very well), and have 500 or more readers (fat chance), I have to register it with the government. Or rather, I WILL have to register it IF the new “lobbying reform” bill (S.1) that’s going through the Senate right now is passed into law. It’s seems that the mind-bogglingly ethical and uncorrupt Senator Harry Reid has attached an amendment to the bill which requires registration of bloggers with more than 500 readers, and who comment on policy issues. Violation would be a criminal offense.
So, Oberstgruppenfuher Reid, what else would be required with this registration? Would we be required to have markings of some sort? Maybe numbered tattoos? Or a yellow patch we have to wear on our shirts? Of course not! Not right away, anyway. That’s for later. But you must be good little bloggers and not question your betters in government. They know what’s best for you.
I’ve never been a fan of term limits. We get the government we elect, and if we’re too stupid to see through the lies and BS of incumbent politicians, then we get the government we deserve. But, I’m starting to come around to the idea. Apparently, there are too many stupid people out there, and just because THEY deserve what they’re getting, that doesn’t mean that I do. Or maybe we just need to institute IQ tests before allowing anyone to vote. Anyone scoring under 100 or over 160 would be disqualified. I’ve met quite a few people with IQ’s over 160, and pretty much all of them had some serious issues, and shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a voting booth.