Comments on: Ithaca – Where Only Liberal Speech is Protected http://rssbinghamton.com/ithaca-where-only-liberal-speech-is-protected/ A conservative voice crying in the liberal wilderness of Greater Binghamton, NY Mon, 08 Nov 2010 12:19:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jim Willis http://rssbinghamton.com/ithaca-where-only-liberal-speech-is-protected/comment-page-1/#comment-1456 Jim Willis Sun, 07 Dec 2008 19:21:16 +0000 http://rssbinghamton.com/?p=420#comment-1456 Thank YOU Brent! You always have great insights, and this one is no exception. No doubt technology has made the speed at which lies travel much faster. And as you point out, the founders would never have imagined so many telling lies so constantly that the public becomes immune to the very concept of truth, as our society has. But then, I posit that people still really do know the truth--deep down. If they believe the lie, it is because they choose to do so. The punishment for spreading lies? That's in God's hands. Our part is to keep telling the truth and to never, ever give up. Even when (like today) all seems lost. Blogging, which I think of as the new pampleteering, is one way we can keep telling the truth. And sooner or later, I hope and pray, we can win people over to the truth! Thank YOU Brent! You always have great insights, and this one is no exception. No doubt technology has made the speed at which lies travel much faster. And as you point out, the founders would never have imagined so many telling lies so constantly that the public becomes immune to the very concept of truth, as our society has. But then, I posit that people still really do know the truth–deep down. If they believe the lie, it is because they choose to do so.

The punishment for spreading lies? That’s in God’s hands. Our part is to keep telling the truth and to never, ever give up. Even when (like today) all seems lost.

Blogging, which I think of as the new pampleteering, is one way we can keep telling the truth. And sooner or later, I hope and pray, we can win people over to the truth!

]]> By: Brent Beckley http://rssbinghamton.com/ithaca-where-only-liberal-speech-is-protected/comment-page-1/#comment-1230 Brent Beckley Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:40:16 +0000 http://rssbinghamton.com/?p=420#comment-1230 Jim: The only problem that I see with this argument is that the Founders could not see ahead to a time where the truth is less published than the lie, and where the lie has become entertainment. Could they have ever foreseen the American culture degrading to the point where "newspapers" like the Enquirer and countless other rags could publish absolute lies and not be punished? Could they ever foresee a culture in which you can write anything you want about a "popular figure" and that figure has little recourse because the courts seem to want to punish them for being a public figure? Could they ever foresee a culture where photographers (paparazzi) can literally trample on every privacy right there is? Where is the punishment for spreading lies? Where is truth winning out? I've mentioned it before, but did the truth win out for the millions of third world children that died of malaria because Rachel Carson and friends pushed for DDT to be banned? I'm all for free speech as the founders saw it. You know that... But I am wondering why liars continually get away with it. Here's another instance. In our voting district, an outright lie cost a man an election. A cheap, dirty, and rotten lie... And the liar's punishment? A seat of power. The Fairness Doctrine is crap. I agree. Crap put out there by a bunch of whiners hemhorraging audience members every day. We have the right to disagree with each other, and the right to shout to the heavens about it. We also have the right to lie, but there should be a real consequence to it. Great article. Thanks. Jim:

The only problem that I see with this argument is that the Founders could not see ahead to a time where the truth is less published than the lie, and where the lie has become entertainment. Could they have ever foreseen the American culture degrading to the point where “newspapers” like the Enquirer and countless other rags could publish absolute lies and not be punished? Could they ever foresee a culture in which you can write anything you want about a “popular figure” and that figure has little recourse because the courts seem to want to punish them for being a public figure? Could they ever foresee a culture where photographers (paparazzi) can literally trample on every privacy right there is?

Where is the punishment for spreading lies? Where is truth winning out? I’ve mentioned it before, but did the truth win out for the millions of third world children that died of malaria because Rachel Carson and friends pushed for DDT to be banned?

I’m all for free speech as the founders saw it. You know that… But I am wondering why liars continually get away with it. Here’s another instance. In our voting district, an outright lie cost a man an election. A cheap, dirty, and rotten lie… And the liar’s punishment? A seat of power.

The Fairness Doctrine is crap. I agree. Crap put out there by a bunch of whiners hemhorraging audience members every day. We have the right to disagree with each other, and the right to shout to the heavens about it.

We also have the right to lie, but there should be a real consequence to it.

Great article. Thanks.

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