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:: MAX BLACK ::

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." --C.S. Lewis

"The Swiss pocket knife of conservative thought on the web..." - Eli Kardrakian

"Bookmark Max and dump your subscription to the newspaper; if you don't have a birdcage you really don't need it anyway..." - Shirley St. James

:: Monday, August 16, 2004 ::

"dampening" of dissent"

I'm no fan of "Moore's moonbats" who show up to protest at the drop of a hat, but I begin to get worried when the FBI tracks down and harasses protesters when no crime has been committed:

...federal agents and city police are keeping tabs on activists and others they believe might try to cause trouble. They are making unannounced visits to people's homes, conducting interviews and monitoring Web sites and meetings.

This questionable tactic is obviously designed to chill political dissent and free-speech and sets a very dangerous legal precedent. Mr. Ashcroft should concern himself less with naked statues, bongs and puppet-headed, flag-burning loons and devote more of his valuable time tracking down Arab terrorists.

I'm certain there are many conservatives/libertarians who wouldn't be particularly heartbroken if Ashcroft were asked to step down--too often he comes off as an anachronistic crank and is an anchor on the Bush/Chaney ticket.

Update: And then there is this, appearing in the China's Xinhuanet, which sends a conflicting message to the Falun Gong and other courageous dissidents fighting for freedom and democracy in China--America's approach to quashing dissent and political speech is not unlike the Communist's--jail them.

Update: Here's more [>]

:: Max 9:11 PM [+] ::
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