An informed citizenry is an asset in a True Democracy; it is a threat

[KlatooBNikto]

to the powerful in a fake Democracy as ours has sadly become.

[Octafish]

1. The Truth is the Enemy of a Dictatorship

The press is the only business mentioned by name in the U.S. Constitution. The Founders understood the importance of an informed citizenry. The First Amendment spelled it out:

"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."

[H2O Man]

3. Yes !

That is one of the most important sentences in human history. It's our job to make sure that it is not erased from our handbook of citizenship.

[hansberrym]

8. "the press" is not a business any more than "speech" is a business.

These are protected activities that might be done for profit (as in a business) or for political or other purposes.



Virginia Bill of Rights:
Section 12. Freedom of speech and of the press; right peaceably to assemble, and to petition.

That the freedoms of speech and of the press are among the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained except by despotic governments; that any citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right; that the General Assembly shall not pass any law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, nor the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for the redress of grievances.


PA Bill of Rights:
Section 7. Freedom of Press and Speech; Libels
The printing press shall be free to every person who may undertake to examine the proceeding of the Legislature or any branch of government, and no law shall ever be made to restrain the right thereof. The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man, and every citizen may freely speak, write and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty. No conviction shall be had in any prosecution for the publication of papers relating to the official conduct of officers or men in public capacity, or to any other matter proper for public investigation or information, where the fact that such publication was not maliciously or negligently made shall be established to the satisfaction of the jury; and in all indictments for libels the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the facts, under the direction of the court, as in other cases.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/VC/visitor_info/creating/constitution.htm


more:
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment01/06.html

[ulTRAX]

10. The Framers Did NOT Want Freedom of The Press

Freedom of the press is NOT in the original Constitution that came out of the Constitutional Convention. It was debated and REJECTED.

The Bill of Rights was forced upon the federal government as a condition of ratification by the states.

[merbex]

2. An informed citizenry is a REQUIREMENT in a True Democracy

and as such is a DANGER to the powerful in a fake Democracy as ours has become

Which could explain why most of the terminations of programs in Bush's 2006 budget comes in Education

Smart bombs and stupid kids will keep BFEE happy

[opihimoimoi]

4. Yup, but taken several levels up, Truth must be an ART Form

Healthy Wealthy and WISE by ole Ben should be a calling for it has roots in Reason

Our Village/State/Nation is not following the Path....see the results of the Pubs and look at the damage against the gains of the lower classes..... we are but peasants in the minds of the extreme powerful rich Rats who have gained position by using the Peter Clone method....sad....

[Octafish]

5. The Art comes from an ancient lesson...

First Truth: Treat others as you would have others treat you.

Same since time immemorial, all continents, all faiths, all-a-body. Works every time. Brings peace, understanding, cooperation, good words and works of lasting value.

Sorry to be so obvious. It's important to put it in words for those who may not have enjoyed a good teacher. Then, again, You already knew that, opihimoimoi.

PS: Too bad the modern repugs only know "conservatism" means keeping what's "mine" and believe in "All for one and one for me" and "me first, last and always -- and the hell with anyone who gets in the way of what I want."

Gee. What about all those Liberals who sacrificed their lives to keep the nation free in World War II and the Cold War? Just one of their lives is worth more than all the property in all the world.

[ulTRAX]

6. being informed is hardly enough

There's a difference between what most consider be "informed"... which is nothing but listening to what reaffirms what they already believe.... and the pursuit of information which challenges what they believe. For a democracy to function the People must be a counterweight to the powerful and that can't happen if they are locked into irrational belief systems which the powerful can manipulate and mass media reinforces.

[KlatooBNikto]

7. What passes for education in our country is the repetition of beliefs

about our uniqueness in history, our omnipotence and the nobility of our intentions with regard to other countries. Nowhere have I seen an alternative idea presented and the students encouraged to explore that alternative.In fact, just to give you an example, this morning's Chicago Tribune has a photo essay with the caption :These images reflect the joy and sorrow of a nation experimenting with democracy even as it struggles with the terrors of ongoing warfare.You would be hard put to find any connection to the U.S. invasion based on lies for causing their sorrows or the continuing manipulation of "elections" in Iraq.

Yes, you are right.Informed is a term that does not convey the many ramifications of what can happen to a citizenry under the spell of its own magnificence.

[ulTRAX]

9. much we call education prevents us from improving our nation

In other threads I commented on how much of what passes for US history is merely to understand and validate what the Framers did... never to critique it with an eye of improving our anti-democratic and dysfunctional political system. With education like that, no wonder most are blind believers in our secular religion.

[independentchristian]

11. Thomas Jefferson said...

..."If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be...The people cannot be safe without information. Where the press is free, and every man is able and willing to read, all is safe."

Abraham Lincoln said, ""America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves...I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crises. The great point is to bring them the real facts."