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Politics : Mainstream Politics and Economics -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JBTFD who wrote (13899)	3/28/2012 2:37:14 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 85487

Except it doesn't. When speech is restricted, big money can lobby anyway or find other ways to influence things, and the large newspapers and TV networks (also big corporations or owned by big corporations) can get their message out even if the government tramples on freedom of speech (as long as it doesn't also trample on freedom of the press and freedom to petition the government for the redress of grievances). Public speech, by big money or anyone else, is better than backroom deals, esp. backroom deals that aren't brought to light because the government tramples on freedom of speech. More open speech helps bring corruption to light. Trying to close off speech makes bringing existing corruption to light more difficult and incentives more corruption as "big money" looks for other ways to influence politics. ----------- You Are Now Free to Speak About Politics Why do some people fear a less restricted debate? Jacob Sullum from the December 2010 issue reason.com reason.com