Crovitz on the Regulation of Free Speech in an Age of Abundance

by Adam Thierer on September 14, 2009 · Comments

I cannot in strong enough terms recommend that everyone read Gordon Crovitz’s latest Wall Street Journal column, “Free Speech, Now that Speech is Free.”  It perfectly encapsulates everything we stand for here and makes the case that I have made again and again: Speech regulation — of all flavors — makes less and less sense in a world of information abundance and user empowerment, and it is a complete affront to our First Amendment rights.  As Crovitz argues:

The Constitution was drafted at a time when there were few media outlets, and few people could be heard. Since then, technology has made it possible for everyone to express their views. The cost of expressing opinions continues to fall. Now that speech is no longer expensive, it’s time to return to the Founders’ intention that speech be free and that Congress not abridge anyone’s right to speak.

Amen brother!  In his essay today, Crovitz specifically takes on America’s increasingly insane campaign finance laws, which make a mockery of the First Amendment.  In the wake of last week’s Supreme Court arguments in the Citizens United case, Crovitz points out the insulting stupidity and sheer futility of these analog era, scarcity-oriented laws:

Continue reading →

Comments Posted in: First Amendment, Free Speech & Online Child Safety

For Real-Time News from Iran . . .

by Jim Harper on June 15, 2009 · Comments

. . . follow @persiankiwi.

Comments Posted in: E-Government & Transparency, Miscellaneous, Things that Go 'Bump' in the 'Net

Whither the Social Contract?

by Solveig Singleton on November 5, 2008 · Comments

Geese are flying overhead. Leaves are orange. The election is over. A historic moment. And I will be optimistic, and hope that although the economics of the moment seems to be a return to things past… to the 1930s, it will turn out to be otherwise, for a good bit is known now that was not known then, whatever one’s ideology. Continue reading →

Comments Posted in: Inside the Beltway (Politics)

“Bigger than Jesus”

by Berin Szoka on September 17, 2008 · Comments

In the beginning, there was Obamamania:

Then there was Palinmania:

Poor Joe Biden.  He gets fewer Google searches than that Jesus guy–whatever he’s running for.

Google Trends is a nifty proxy for measuring public interest in a very narrowly defined subject.  The examples above show ”Search volume” (the total number of Google search queries for each keyword) and “News reference volume” (the same for news stories) for the last twelve months in the U.S.  The lettered boxes indicate news stories tagged by keyword–which I have omitted from this screenshot for the sake of simplicity.  

Comments Posted in: Inside the Beltway (Politics), Technology, Business & Cool Toys