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Actually our system depends on almost unlimited public discusson
Your facts may apply to lesser democracies. The USA is an odd pickle. Over time European concepts of public disclosure have found their way into our system. But the foundation of our democracy is the citizen's right to speak anonymously about wrong doing by public and corporate officials.

We have grand juries and gag orders. I grant you that. If you join the the military or a similar organization your rights of citizenship in regards to speech are believed limited. But then we have Lt Wataba. It is not by accident that Wataba isn't being prosecuted for bad mouthing the President. He and many patriots now recognize the power our system gives us, the need for candid discussion in real time.

In other societies you might still speak candidly but it comes at a higher cost. At its basic level it is the cost of legal counsel. You hire an advocate, called a lawyer, who then puts on the boxing gloves and starts chatting like Americans can. Lawyer client privilege protects you. But it really is a farce in a Web 2.0 world.

With Web 2.0 anyone can post and posting anonymously is allowed as long as that posting isn't harassment. The US established that right with telephony. Anyone can call you and call anonymously unless it is harassment. In that case we have other laws which can be applied.

I am certain that if you think this through you will realize that the profession loosing the most status in our society today is the legal profession. Web 2.0 allows us to defend our beliefs, and tolerate others. It allows us to address issues as fundamental to polite society as the issue of slavery was when the nation was founded. Issues like monopoly power, Issues like corporate influence over our government leaders. Issues like terrorism.
Posted by: mighetto   Posted on: 07/18/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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EU court to rule on Microsoft on Sept. 17  Loverock Davidson | 07/17/07
Saying "Microsoft is ingenious at running a successful business"...  Henry Miller | 07/17/07
And 90% of all users say you are a fool.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/17/07
And yet  zkiwi | 07/17/07
Show me.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/17/07
I don't know where you have been at lately but ,,,  Intellihence | 07/17/07
Price Controls  ceh4702 | 07/18/07
It never fails to amaze me how you simplify things  intrepi@... | 08/02/07
re: And 90% of all users say you are a fool.  Intellihence | 07/17/07
Spokesman  DirtyDingus | 07/21/07
I'm honoured...  Henry Miller | 07/17/07
Try speaking for yourself and not the 90 %  intrepi@... | 08/02/07
Sept. 17 must be the day of software liberation  Linux Geek | 07/17/07
Message has been deleted.  James T. Kirk | 07/17/07
Message has been deleted.  Linux Geek | 07/17/07
Message has been deleted.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/17/07
Message has been deleted.  Intellihence | 07/17/07
Why all the "Deleted messages Mr ZDNet !! ???  beepa | 07/19/07
What Free Speech?  PrinceKovu992@... | 07/19/07
Heh...  James T. Kirk | 07/17/07
Message has been deleted.  nomorems | 07/17/07
Message has been deleted.  James T. Kirk | 07/17/07
Well get started right now John .  Intellihence | 07/17/07
Linux users *write*  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/17/07
ROTFFLMFAO !!!  Intellihence | 07/17/07
I wasn't aware that . . .  JLHenry | 07/18/07
rofl  Bite Me_Ax_Moron | 07/20/07
What was that?  Freebird54 | 07/20/07
" meant to express"  Ole Man | 07/22/07
Is that all you can say !  Intellihence | 07/17/07
Do you really think that...  lenohere | 07/18/07
Interesting timing indeed !!!  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/17/07
Remember the history, though.  Anton Philidor | 07/17/07
True, however if you look at Monti boys history  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/17/07
EU court has been ally for monopolists: Then a Judge Jackson.  mighetto | 07/17/07
Huh? Jackson was kicked to the curb for havinga big mouth  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/17/07
Kicked to the curb for speaking the truth.  nomorems | 07/17/07
Sorry but the courts don't agree with you.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/17/07
Now you are the spokesman for the COURTS , amazing .  Intellihence | 07/17/07
ermmm actually  desamuelson | 07/18/07
Actually our system depends on almost unlimited public discusson  mighetto | 07/18/07
You've finally made some interesting points  intrepi@... | 08/02/07
How many times  Shelendrea | 07/17/07
One more Appeals Court.  Anton Philidor | 07/17/07
Whether there is one more appeal or not  zkiwi | 07/17/07
Grounds not required...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/17/07
Link please.  nomorems | 07/17/07
My arse points you to this  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/17/07
Oops, didn't get the  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/17/07
Now you are a lwayer , I'm truly amazed No_Ax .  Intellihence | 07/17/07
Your definition of fun...  Anton Philidor | 07/17/07
Message has been deleted.  code_Warrior | 07/17/07
should have posted below link  code_Warrior | 07/17/07
All antitrust laws must die [nt]  Omch'Ar | 07/17/07
The trouble with Microsoft  Ole Man | 07/18/07
microsoft  surfingd2001@... | 07/18/07
Linux is the way?  blueeyesrob78@... | 07/19/07
You must be very sick.....  tiger9999 | 07/19/07
"I have building computers for 13 years"  Ole Man | 07/19/07
I never had to look for any drivers ?  intrepi@... | 08/02/07
Corporate Malfeasance Information Repository  Ole Man | 07/19/07
The EU?  Boot_Agnostic | 07/23/07
The EU and United Nations have few connections  intrepi@... | 08/02/07
Time to move on to non Microsoft Software  intrepi@... | 08/02/07

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