On Sat, 10 Mar 2001, Declan McCullagh wrote:
Again, Jim is habitually confused. The regulations he believes are
Really? Where is it then? Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The regulations draw a distinction that is not recognized in 'equal under the law'. A democracy (at least this one) is SUPPOSED to provide equal protection under the law. The referenced regulations don't do that. They draw a distinction based on a COMMERCIAL yardstick and that is most certainly unconstitutional. There is a reason that the Constitution doesn't mention business except in one clause - IT ISN'T IMPORTANT TO A WELL ORDERED DEMOCRACY. Some Jefferson quotes: The Press - No Government outght to be without censors; and when the press is free, no one ever will. Nature has given to man no other means of sifting out the truth either in religion, law, or politics. I think it as honorable to the government neither to know nor notice sycophants or censors as it would be indignified and criminal to pampter the former and persecute the latter. Newspapers - At a very early period in my life I determined never to put a sentence in any newspaper. I have religiously adhered to the resolution through my life and have great reason to be content with it. Were I to undertake to answer the calumnies of the newspapers it would be more than all my time and twenty aids could effect. For, while I should be answering one, twenty new ones would be invented. I have thought it better to trust to the justice of my countrymen that they would judge me by what they see of my conduct on the stage where they have placed me. 'calumnies' means slander. ____________________________________________________________________ Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it. Locke The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage@ssz.com www.ssz.com .', |||| `/( e\ 512-451-7087 -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- --------------------------------------------------------------------