When Did We Lose the First Amendment?

by eran on June 30, 2009

Karen-BassThe First Amendment to our Constitution seems to have disappeared.  It appears we  lost it on June 27, 2009.

In an LA Times interview with California State Assembly Speaker Karen Bass is asked the question, “How do you think conservative talk radio has affected the Legislature’s work?”

The Speaker answers with this gem…

The Republicans were essentially threatened and terrorized against voting for revenue. Now [some] are facing recalls. They operate under a terrorist threat: “You vote for revenue and your career is over.” I don’t know why we allow that kind of terrorism to exist. I guess it’s about free speech, but it’s extremely unfair.

Its unfair… Its terrorism.  Oh yes we don’t want competition for these jobs of running the state of California and we certainly don’t want any Constitutional Ballyhoo.

Ok for all you Constitutional slackers let’s look at the 1st Amendment.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

It appears that Bass doesn’t believe in the right of the people to petition the Government for a redress of grievances; a right guaranteed by one of the most powerful documents ever created.

There’s a lot of stupidity and tyranny locked into those few words.  The First Amendment guarantees the right to petition the government for redress of grievances, even apart from the “free speech” issues Bass casually discards.  Elected politicians are accountable to the people who elect them in a free society.  Politicians do not acquire lordly status when they go to the Assembly, or anywhere else. The Hot Air Blog

How the hell is it that our “leaders” don’t understand the foundation of the Government they work for? I guess it’s because America aka the voters are so caught up in non-important matters as to ignore the particularly important ones.

Let’s just look at the last week. TV News Devotes 28 Hours to Michael Jackson; 93% of Cable Airtime. While the media was eating up Michael Jackson’s death they failed. The media missed Iran having a major upheaval over a tainted election. Congress is working on the largest tax of all time, a tax that will kill our economy. Obama is attempting to spend Trillions of dollars on social programs like government healthcare insurance.  Many important issues are being swept aside by the mainstream media and in turn our 2 second attention spans and a society that is showing signs of missing a moral compass are not monitoring what is important to this country.

No one is watching our political leaders. Our political leaders are as confused as anyone as to right and wrong. Our leaders choose to cheat, lie and do whatever with impunity. We see failure to pay taxes, failure to promises and committments including family bonds. We as a society have lost our ability to choose right from wrong. We have become confused as to what is what. Our societies moral compass is broken. Unfortunately if we don’t change, we will find bondage as the country as we are crushed under a massive debt created by a failure to choose good from evil.

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  • LouRob
    This one takes the cake for the most ridiculous rant I've read all week.

    If I read it correctly, a major feat in itself, you have stated that the First Amendment is in danger because conservative talk radio hosts are ranting against the Republicans. Isn't that the very definition of free speech?

    You also blamed cable TV because they were catering to the masses. Again, isn't that another definition of free speech? The "government" did not step in and demand they cover the Iranian election or the congressional tax hearings or Obama's health care initiatives. As bizarre as it seems, the cable news channels gave the public what it wants.

    If no one is watching our political leaders, whose fault is it? The news channels? Sorry. The fault, dear Brutus, is in ourselves. The average American would rather bitch about their representative's actions rather than express their wishes to them and "to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

    If you haven't contacted your representatives and expressed your opinions, wishes and desires, don't lay the blame on the media. Stand up and take responsibility for yourselves. That same piece of paper you referred to earlier guarantees your right to do so.
  • eran
    Its sarcasm… it got you to click and to react by posting your thoughts.

    My point is if political leaders don’t understand the Constitution there is a problem. If citizens don’t expect more from their political leaders there is a problem. When the media gives our leaders a free pass there is a problem.
    When the media stops questioning our government and just goes along with them IE ABC News and Obama’s Healthcare with no counter point, I think that is a failure. I understand free speech and the media being a business and producing content the masses want. However the media used to provide the service of giving the people the facts and letting them decide. The media has stopped and is now more content to talk about Michael Jackson. And when the media does speak of government it’s one sided and/or they don’t ask tough questions.

    I watch my local leaders and I watch my Federal leaders. I write, I call and try to be proactive. My point was most people don’t. People are apathetic and fail to act and it’s their own fault. Again I think the media has a duty to provide details but in addition the media also can provide more leverage than those of us who are constantly being pushed away by our representatives. Our leaders love to keep people at a distance by making it harder to send mail, to email or to even call. What other options do I have when my national leaders don’t live local?
  • LouRob
    My apologies, I didn't realize you were poking fun. But at least we agree that too many people aren't watching what's going on.
    I've been on jury duty the last two weeks and discovered more people can name the contestants on Dancing With The Stars and American Idol than can name our state and national representatives.
    It has also been interesting to see how many people feel that we're living in a dictatorship because they are forced into jury duty.
  • eran
    Its all good...

    Its sad that people pay more attention to silly TV shows than what is currently happening with their government. The apathy is appalling.

    Its sad to think that server your country as a juror is a privilege not a punishment. Its a right guaranteed to us, a trial by our peers.
  • Henry McClain
    I believe the problem stems from a cultural perspective of ownership.

    Over the last two centuries the people have systematically been distanced from government because they no longer feel they have a real stake in government. The idea of citizenship is predicated on ownership, as a stakeholder. Citizenship in this country, our culture, has been devalued over time.

    Personally, I would like to see a voting requirement re-instituted. The idea that a voting right is presumed has caused us more damage than it has helped. And it will get worse. Alexander Fraser Tyler said a democracy "...can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury."

    I have mentioned property ownership in the past, but I think a minimal, voluntary, military service would certainly qualify too (2 or 4 yrs peacetime service or 1 combat tour).

    If the voting block perceives they have nothing to lose and everything to gain, they are not true stakeholders. And this is one reason why they focus their energies on worthless entertainment and opinion delivered by an inept and corrupt (or co opted) news corporation.

    PS: what is this commentluv button? do i need that?
  • eran
    @LouRob

    Funny that a constitutionally guaranteed right is "living in a dictatorship."
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