September 07, 2005

'Blogger Favors Freedom First
By Lady Liberty

There's little question that free speech is endangered in America today. Witness, for example, those protesters at both the Democrat and Republican national conventions who were relegated to "free speech zones." Consider hate speech laws that are often broad and, as a result, even more broadly interpreted. Remember that we now know that protesters in California were the subject of surveillance by the National Guard, and that the FBI, too, has been monitoring those who would speak out. There have been noises made that Internet 'bloggers should, perhaps, be subject to campaign finance reform laws (which, as they currently exist, are effectively free speech curbs). And then take note of the fact that an Ohio prosecutor recently referred to a 'blogger as a "paper terrorist," and you'll begin to get an even clearer picture as to just how endangered our First Amendment rights have become. (Read the rest here)

Bakers Dozen ™: Hot-Wash Lessons Learned From Katrina, Week 1
By Nathan A. Barton (TM and © 2005)

These apply to ANYTOWN, USA, and not just hurricane-harried Gulf-Coast towns:

1. Don’t count on federal or state aid to do ANYTHING.

2. Don’t count on local police to do ANYTHING (good).

3. Don’t count on local government honchos to do ANYTHING but whine. (Read the rest here)

Will the Government’s Abysmal Response to Katrina
Recur During a Terrorist Attack?
By Ivan Eland

Inadequate government planning and the sluggishness of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina raise important questions about the quality of the government’s response to any future cataclysmic terrorist attack.

New Orleans now faces severe unnecessary casualties, stranded refugees in desperate conditions, looting, lawlessness, and general chaos. Could the same mayhem happen after another 9/11-style catastrophic conventional attack, a terrorist incident involving a nuclear or chemical plant, or even a strike with chemical, biological, nuclear or radiological weapons? The answer is yes. (Read the rest here)

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Libertarian Commentary on The News
By Nathan A. Barton © 2005

Gulf War Three

Wal-Mart at Forefront of Hurricane Relief
Washington Post
At 8 a.m. on Wednesday, as New Orleans filled with water, Wal-Mart chief executive H. Lee Scott Jr. called an emergency meeting of his top lieutenants and warned them he did not want a "measured response" to the hurricane. "I want us to respond in a way appropriate to our size and the impact we can have," he said, according to an executive who attended the meeting. At the time, Wal-Mart had pledged $2 million to the relief efforts. "Should it be $10 million?" Scott asked.

Wal-Mart is frequently viewed by many people, including libertarians, as an example of corporate evil-ness, and certainly the organization has its faults and is far too cozy with the "State" in too many places when it comes to land (eminent domain), zoning, and other issues. But this kind of example of efficiency and concern - concern motivated in large part but clearly NOT entirely by the profit motive - should be pointed out as an example to be emulated. And no matter how bad Wal-Mart may be, I'd much rather have them than the incompetent, bloated, thieving, and power-mad governments we have. Much! (Read the rest here)

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