It's possible that over time, an energy tax, by making some computers, Web sites, blogs and perhaps cable TV channels too costly to maintain, could reduce the supply of information. [More]It's Orwellian--the only way to ensure "democracy" is to stifle individual voices. See, the poor establishment media doesn't have enough of a competitive advantage. Something must be done. And naturally, the government decides who is "overproducing" (bloggers).
I have two words that rebut everything this Bolshevik says: "Authorized Journalists." Like the fascist Washington Post can be trusted to cover Liberty.
The left often perpetrates the lie that RKBA activists only care about the Second Amendment at the expense of all other rights. As we can plainly see, the First Amendment is no safer in their nakedly collectivist hands than anything else.
If Dusty Horwitt has his way, the government will enforce his insane power grab under force of arms. And eat whole useful idiots like him when they're no longer needed.
[Via Zachary G]
"If Dusty Horwitt has his way, the government will enforce his insane power grab under force of arms."
ReplyDeleteThey maun try.
III
...and when they came for the first amendment, there was no one left to speak up.
ReplyDeleteIf the mainstream media would inform us in full color, not just shades of "Red"...
ReplyDeleteThey're TRYING to adapt, but their idea of diversity is more red, yellow, black and brown LIBERALS in the newsrooms.
You can tell them and tell them, but they consider Hillary and Bill Clinton "centrists."
I DESPISE people who want to deploy the government hammer to beat the world into THEIR vision.
Sure, create more laws for us to break and taxes for us to dodge. As in "Jonathan Livingston Seagull," when you're Outcast for not going with the flock, it encourages you to be full Outlaw.
Quite conterproductive for them, I'd say.
And, in countries where the government gets rid of competition for Big Media, you print and broadcast what you're told, or go to jail, or worse.
They can write (or TYPE), but can they READ? It's a very old story.
Equalization of Opportunity Act, anyone? How about the anti-dog-eat-dog rule?
ReplyDeleteWhy yes, I am listening to the Atlas Shrugged audiobook, why do you ask?
Atlas Shrugged is frickin' amazing!
ReplyDeleteIn other news ... what the FUCK? sure, they can try and shut down my blog, then the molotov cocktails come out.
/I need to reread my copy.
//soon.
Just like with forcible energy conservation, any reduction in energy use is a reduction in productivity, though not necessarily immediate or proportional. Either less is produced, so fewer workers are needed, or money is spent in more expensive, more efficient technology--also at the expense of something else.
ReplyDeleteI do admit that I'm a bit confused by the position of the AJs. I thought blogs were a bad source of news, because people seek only the news they want to read? Apparently they no longer discriminate, but just sit there and get bombarded with everything. Bloggers are more efficient than a newspaper publisher, because they don't need an office building, a printing press, and they don't consume thousands of trees and produce millions of pounds of paper waste. Plus, most papers just reprint AP or Reuters news-wire items, anyway. Why not tax newspapers?
Regardless, this suggestion is not grounded in reality. Nobody hits an off switch on the Internet when it's not in use. There is a baseline of power consumption regardless of whether or not data is being transmitted. As I've pointed out before, a person's attention is a scare resource. The "problem" is self-limiting because no business can justify an expenditure that produces no benefit. Eventually more than a few companies will figure out that it is more effective to reward people for their attention, than to saturate communications hoping that they'll annoy people enough to pay attention.
ALL rights for ALL people EVERYwhere for ALL time. That is my stance, though it makes me unpopular at times.
ReplyDeleteThat is my stance, though it makes me unpopular at times.
ReplyDeleteNot with me; not ever.
Dusty Horwitt: "To achieve their goals, political movements need to reach and influence tens of millions of citizens."
Given that that statement is probably true, the "problem" (inability to influence tens of millions) he complains about is a feature -- not a bug. Dusty can just kiss my ass.
Can't wait to hear the National Resource Association's "compromise" offer.
ReplyDeleteNo imported blogs, no fully automatic blogs, no blogs begun after 1986, blog free school zones, no blogs in government buildings. Blogs limited to only non-prohibited persons. Any person reading a blog with multi-syllabic words is a prohibited person. Bloggers must pass stringent background checks and maintain a manufacturers permit, readers must register the blogs they read and have a permit good only on premises during specified hours. Possession of a keyboard is a constructive violation of the read only permit and is punishable by confiscation of assets and harsh prison sentences. Reading glasses in proximity to any computer is considered a violation of AOB (any other blog) as an add on feature, the possession of which is prima facie evidence of violation of the ABB (assault blog ban)and is punishable by the killing of all pets in the household, and residents, at the discretion of the early morning assault team where unauthorized possession of blogging materials is suspected.
The above subject to alteration as the situation warrants in order to maintain the "freedom of the press" and assure first amendment rights.
Clearly, we are all going to have to learn how to be internet pirates!
ReplyDeleteAnd keep yer cutlasses sharp, mateys!
You can always tell a liberal, you just can not tell them much.
ReplyDelete