So why is it – going off the decision by the high court in Buckley versus Valeo – that when political expression is given the “broadest possible protection” – money is protected, but tents are not? And why is it – when recogning the CREATIVE dynamic of free expression – that again – money is protected, but tents are not? I think the answer is fairly obvious – corporations have a lot of money…and not a lot of tents. The ironic thing is – Occupy Wall Street is demonstrating – in large part – against these two court cases – against the idea that money is speech. So in essence – rulings that big green pieces of fabrics are NOT a form of free speech is just fine…just as long as the court is consistent and rules that the little green pieces of fabric are not speech either. But until that happens – until the court treats all fabric in the same way – then Occupy Wall Street needs to keep camping out. And my tip to the movement is simple – start building your tents out of stitched-together dollar bills.
Related articles
- It’s Not Actually a Free Speech Question…: (brothersjuddblog.com)
- Government Crackdown on Free Speech: Are They Firing Employees for Exercising Their Rights? (alternet.org)
- Dirty Hands and Occupy Wall Street (gameofroles.wordpress.com)
- Occupy Wall Street is allowed back into the park by a NYC JUDGE but without tents (bonjupatten.wordpress.com)
- Pepper spray and free speech (hollyonthehill.wordpress.com)
- Occupy camps still standing in L.A., Philadelphia – San Francisco Chronicle (sfgate.com)
- Judges order Occupy Vancouver and Victoria to clear out (thestar.com)
- Judge orders Occupy Vancouver to clear out (thestar.com)
- New York Judge Rules For City In Clearing Of Zuccotti Park (outsidethebeltway.com)
- Judge to OWS: You Can’t Live Here Anymore (But You’re Free to Visit!) (blogs.wsj.com)