At 05:21 PM 7/6/99 , my inner geek wrote:
>Sasha Chislenko <sasha1@netcom.com> wrote:
>
> > See http://www.aclu.org/action/flag106.html
> >
> > - A typical sign of a totalitarian regime - physical
> > punishment for symbolic expression of disagreement.
>
>So what's the punishment now... fine, jail, or having your website
>automatically blocked from 3Com's AirConnect 2000 Firewall auto-
>filtering service?
That's an idea... On-line desecration! How about drawing a picture of a bureaucrat carving this law with a big knife into the American Flag, thus reducing it to shreds? That would convey the opinion that this law is desecrating the spirit of freedom, while formally being a violation in itself.
Anybody with artistic talents out there?
>In terms of law enforcement/free speech protection, assuming the
>government to be a corrupt, leaky bureacracy, what's the best way to
>decentralize authority in an expeditious yet libertarian way?
A great question. There is also a dual issue - how to set up new social structures in a way immune from bureaucratic influence.
One method may be lawsuits. Pick an utterly ridiculous law, break it, and have people bring charges.
Another - show the bureaucracy/church/business that they are losing money/influence/credibility with _some_ of the laws. - That was the beginning of Gorbachev's perestroika campaign - but it appeared that small reforms for the sake of greater efficiency discredited and destroyed the whole structure.
I am sure there are other ways, campaigns, slogans, enabling technologies, ideas, etc. ACLU seems to be a good forum for that. Maybe somebody can create a brainstorming bulletin board there, with a call for donations?