Re: POLITICS: Re: grim prospects

From: David Lubkin (extropy@unreasonable.com)
Date: Wed Apr 10 2002 - 11:16:55 MDT


At 11:25 PM 4/9/2002 -0400, "Technotranscendence" wrote:

> > Of course, a suitable mechanism must exist for reviewing any actions. And
> > any personnel who abuse their authority to block, arrest, or harm reporters
> > must be punished very harshly.
> >
> > Checks and balances. For both officials and press.
>
>The problem here, and pretty much the reason to have a First Amendment,
>is because any checks and balances on the media are going to be enforced
>by... The government!

Not just the government. Think libertarian. Checks and balances on both
officials and press can be through civil litigation. Unleash the dogs of
war -- lawyers on contingency, the ACLU, Gun Owners of America, the LP,
NORML., Amnesty International, Consumers Union, Judicial Watch, CAMERA,
Southern Poverty Law Center, the ADL, Institute for Justice....

And encourage the press to feed on themselves. Give them incentives to
keep each other honest.

-- David.



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