Examining The Internet Debates
Ken Hughes
April 02, 2007
Unlike many countries the US constitution guarantees every citizen the right to voice an opinion on any subject they choose, there’re very few exceptions to this rule. The internet provides the vehicle for many of these comments and millions of words are posted each day expressing views from both sides of the political spectrum. Opposing views are posted on the same web-news sites leading to some very interesting reading.
This new phenomenon the internet news allows the novas [first time] contributor to share equally space with the more articulate pseudo intellectual who attained a certain degree of sophistication in their writing.
Much of what we read on the internet are the same arguments we hear anywhere political arguments are discussed. On the plus side the internet allows us the privilege of making our point without interruption. Heated rebuttals come in the forum sections most web news sites provide.
Web sites have varying degrees of editing out profane and inappropriate language some edit for content and honesty others are less critical and anything goes. Most web sites provide rebuttal / forums where the truly offended can vent their frustrations with each other.
Citizen commentary usually falls into two categories, politics and current events, the exceptions are those who assume a professorial persona and take up the duties of class monitor requested or not, like it or not.
Americans are fortunate these subjects are protected by the constitution so far the government can’t regulate opinions of these subjects. China and several other nations less tolerant of free speech are regulating what Bloggers write. There’s legislation before the House of Lords in England to restrict Bloggers opinions of government and politics. At the rate the new Democratic congress is assuming the powers of the President assuming the power of the people may not be far behind.
It’s no more likely internet contributors will clean up their postings anymore than it is government will not try to create legislation restricting internet bloggers. The constitution is rapidly becoming a historical archive that gathers dust in a National Museum. Congress the President and the Courts have ignored the constitution for the past quarter century or more.
When and if government officials and bureaucrats finally realize internet bloggers are their nemesis they may wake up and reestablish constitutional law to our government. The first step should be term limits for all congressmen and women twelve years in either or both houses should be sufficient. The XXII amendment [22nd] limits the president to two terms of four years each a XXVIII amendment [28th] would limit both houses of congress to three terms of four years each. It would not only save the taxpayers money it would establish same sanity to an otherwise dysfunctional election process and elect persons who understand the 21st century and modern technology.
The internet is becoming a valuable source of information with the advent of You Tube.com everything is out in the open. Can the government regulate the internet probably not? If Microsoft and Google launch their own satellites and move their operations to the Cayman Islands this government would be hard pressed to block their transmissions short of destroying their communication links. The brilliance of our founding fathers was not to give any one branch of government total power over the other branches regardless how Speaker Pelosi and her fellow Democrats interpret the constitution.
The internet is our Guardian Angel protecting us from undue political influence please treat it with respect treat it like a lover not a spouse.
This new phenomenon the internet news allows the novas [first time] contributor to share equally space with the more articulate pseudo intellectual who attained a certain degree of sophistication in their writing.
Much of what we read on the internet are the same arguments we hear anywhere political arguments are discussed. On the plus side the internet allows us the privilege of making our point without interruption. Heated rebuttals come in the forum sections most web news sites provide.
Web sites have varying degrees of editing out profane and inappropriate language some edit for content and honesty others are less critical and anything goes. Most web sites provide rebuttal / forums where the truly offended can vent their frustrations with each other.
Citizen commentary usually falls into two categories, politics and current events, the exceptions are those who assume a professorial persona and take up the duties of class monitor requested or not, like it or not.
Americans are fortunate these subjects are protected by the constitution so far the government can’t regulate opinions of these subjects. China and several other nations less tolerant of free speech are regulating what Bloggers write. There’s legislation before the House of Lords in England to restrict Bloggers opinions of government and politics. At the rate the new Democratic congress is assuming the powers of the President assuming the power of the people may not be far behind.
It’s no more likely internet contributors will clean up their postings anymore than it is government will not try to create legislation restricting internet bloggers. The constitution is rapidly becoming a historical archive that gathers dust in a National Museum. Congress the President and the Courts have ignored the constitution for the past quarter century or more.
When and if government officials and bureaucrats finally realize internet bloggers are their nemesis they may wake up and reestablish constitutional law to our government. The first step should be term limits for all congressmen and women twelve years in either or both houses should be sufficient. The XXII amendment [22nd] limits the president to two terms of four years each a XXVIII amendment [28th] would limit both houses of congress to three terms of four years each. It would not only save the taxpayers money it would establish same sanity to an otherwise dysfunctional election process and elect persons who understand the 21st century and modern technology.
The internet is becoming a valuable source of information with the advent of You Tube.com everything is out in the open. Can the government regulate the internet probably not? If Microsoft and Google launch their own satellites and move their operations to the Cayman Islands this government would be hard pressed to block their transmissions short of destroying their communication links. The brilliance of our founding fathers was not to give any one branch of government total power over the other branches regardless how Speaker Pelosi and her fellow Democrats interpret the constitution.
The internet is our Guardian Angel protecting us from undue political influence please treat it with respect treat it like a lover not a spouse.
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