Archive for April, 2011
The New York Public Libraries And Pornography: Freedom Of Speech Gone Mad!
Posted by Ronald in News and Politics on April 30, 2011
The debate over civil liberties rages on in American society and culture, but the concept of limits still intrudes itself.
The decision of the New York Public Library systems to allow patrons to log on to pornography websites on library computers in their areas subject to public access is causing a stir over the extent of freedom of speech limits.
Does a person who is over 18 years of age have the right to access pornography websites on his or her own computer? The answer clearly is YES!
Should any person have the right to access such websites on a public library computer within view and sound of other patrons? The answer clearly is NO!
Pornography is something that is a private matter and should remain that.
No one should be subjected to other people’s views or tastes on sexuality, as it is offensive to many people, and children under 18 could be easily exposed to such websites while in the library, with or without their parents being present.
It is a question of common decency and public behavior, not an issue of freedom of speech. No one is saying that there is any justification or method to eliminate all pornography websites, but it most definitely is a question of common sense and sensitivity to the rights of those who do not wish to witness such sites within their hearing or viewing.
This issue will not go away, and assuredly, the American Civil Liberties Union will fight this matter in court.
It would not be surprising if such a case reached the Supreme Court at some point, and one cannot be certain as to how the high Court would react.
But in the mind of the author, if he were on the Supreme Court, he would vote to ban such pornography in public libraries as unacceptable to the general public, and make clear that sexuality is a private matter, not to be displayed in such a venue as a public library, a place for all citizens and non citizens alike, to enlighten and educate the population and promote their advancement.
So again, no one is out to ban pornography, which would be impossible anyway, but to ban it in public libraries in sight or sound of the vast majority of people who would find it objectionable in that venue!
A New Outrage: Public Pensions Under Attack, Despite Legal Guarantees!
Posted by Ronald in News and Politics on April 26, 2011
The attack on public workers–teachers, nurses, social workers, police officers, fire fighters, prison guards, and others–continues, and it is not only affecting work conditions, but also guarantees by contract on pensions in many states and cities, and not only for future pensioners, but also present pensioners in some locations!
Everyone acknowledges that police officers and fire fighters face more dangerous and stressful work conditions than other public workers, so in many localities around America, they can retire at a younger age and collect pensions for many more years than other public workers.
Now, the police office in Detroit are seeing their pensions cut, and in a small town outside Mobile, Alabama, 150 retired workers stopped getting pensions checks altogether!
This seems like the tip of the iceberg, as it means that many public workers, who have accepted public jobs with lower pay but better benefits, now are endangered by not having a guarantee of their pensions in the future, and in extreme circumstances, could lose all or most of it as economic conditions deteriorate further all across the country!
It used to be thought that if contracts are agreed to by both sides in a negotiation, therefore, there are legal guarantees of enforcement of those contracts. But now it seems clear that what any government gives, it can take away at will and with abuse!