17 Oct
2001
17 Oct
'01
12:38 p.m.
In article <5B4EB71E-C28E-11D5-B48C-0050E439C473@got.net>,
Tim May
However, America operates on the ratchet principle: the tightening of liberties _always_ proceeds in the forward direction. Each new crisis, each new emergency order, each new federal agency, each new law...everything cranks the ratchet wheel toward less liberty.
I agree this is the general direction, but I think there are some major exceptions; for example, the doctrine of prior restraint was not established in court until 1931. -- Shields.