Comments on: Abridging political speech on campus - a valuable educational experience http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/ The Unpredictable Union of Pragmatism, Idealism, and Cynicism Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:20:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Del http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11989 Del Tue, 30 Oct 2007 02:28:01 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11989 I wouldn't call it a complete failure. I think some of their goals were satisfied abundantly. I wouldn’t call it a complete failure. I think some of their goals were satisfied abundantly.

]]> By: Brian http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11988 Brian Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:57:25 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11988 I've made my opposition to the prescription drug entitlement program quite apparant. It's a miserable failure even by entitlement program standards. Republicans didn't have experience being Democrats, so they failed when they tried to give away free stuff. I’ve made my opposition to the prescription drug entitlement program quite apparant. It’s a miserable failure even by entitlement program standards. Republicans didn’t have experience being Democrats, so they failed when they tried to give away free stuff.

]]> By: Del http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11969 Del Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:11:32 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11969 *cough*prescriptiondrug*cough* Also, "incentives," such as the oil & gas handouts in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. *cough*prescriptiondrug*cough*

Also, “incentives,” such as the oil & gas handouts in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

]]> By: Brian http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11964 Brian Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:06:35 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11964 Are you referring to tax cuts? If so, yours would be the classic Dem fallacy that assets earned by and owned by individuals or companies actually belong to the government and Uncle Sam merely allows you to retain some out of benevolence. Allowing an entity to keep more of what it legally earned is not a gift. If a mugger opens your wallet and takes $80, but leaves $20 he has not given you $20. Are you referring to tax cuts? If so, yours would be the classic Dem fallacy that assets earned by and owned by individuals or companies actually belong to the government and Uncle Sam merely allows you to retain some out of benevolence. Allowing an entity to keep more of what it legally earned is not a gift. If a mugger opens your wallet and takes $80, but leaves $20 he has not given you $20.

]]> By: Talmadge East http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11963 Talmadge East Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:45:07 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11963 Isn't that what Republicans offer big business, a "gift?" Cold hard cash. Isn’t that what Republicans offer big business, a “gift?” Cold hard cash.

]]> By: Don http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11842 Don Sat, 27 Oct 2007 13:05:39 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11842 Speaking of abridging political speech on campus: http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=17B8655F-DC78-447A-9652-C5F7D5612937 Speaking of abridging political speech on campus:

http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=17B8655F-DC78-447A-9652-C5F7D5612937

]]> By: Brian http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11783 Brian Fri, 26 Oct 2007 01:19:17 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11783 Restrictions on politicking at polling places are reasonable because they prevent voter intimidation. I don't see why a candidate should be forbidden from giving away food near a polling place so long as they honor the lawful setback. If food and gifts were permissible in polling places I don't think it would be unreasonable to bar the distribution of intoxicants (whether for profit or political gain) at said polling places. You take umbrage with the notion of a "gift" in exchange for a vote, but isn't that what defines the Democrat party? Clinton & Co. offer up the gift of huge expansions of entitlement programs in exchange for votes. Hell, the only difference between whoring out your vote for a slice of pizza (in advance) or a promised entitlement program is that you're at least guaranteed to get the pizza for selling out. Restrictions on politicking at polling places are reasonable because they prevent voter intimidation. I don’t see why a candidate should be forbidden from giving away food near a polling place so long as they honor the lawful setback. If food and gifts were permissible in polling places I don’t think it would be unreasonable to bar the distribution of intoxicants (whether for profit or political gain) at said polling places.

You take umbrage with the notion of a “gift” in exchange for a vote, but isn’t that what defines the Democrat party? Clinton & Co. offer up the gift of huge expansions of entitlement programs in exchange for votes. Hell, the only difference between whoring out your vote for a slice of pizza (in advance) or a promised entitlement program is that you’re at least guaranteed to get the pizza for selling out.

]]> By: Talmadge East http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11755 Talmadge East Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:37:36 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11755 So, Brian, by your implication I can go to a polling station and give away beer or food or some other "gift" in exchange for a commitment to vote for me, but that is ok because they don't HAVE to actually vote for me. While some may take the bribe and go on, the majority will fulfill their "commitment." So, Brian, by your implication I can go to a polling station and give away beer or food or some other “gift” in exchange for a commitment to vote for me, but that is ok because they don’t HAVE to actually vote for me. While some may take the bribe and go on, the majority will fulfill their “commitment.”

]]> By: Brian http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11749 Brian Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:59:54 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11749 What does that say about college students if their votes are for sale for a $1 slice of pizza? Everyone has a price, but geez. The real question is how is it appropriate for the government (or an academic mini-government) to tell you what you can and cannot do with your personal property so long as you do not harm anyone? If you want to give away pizza or t-shirts to people that is your business. If someone else wants to accept your offering that is their business. What is the problem if your not-so-altruistic charity influences a future decision the recipient makes? There are numerous on-campus analogies. For example, when I was a full time student (I don't know about today) there were credit card reps everywhere giving away all kinds of free stuff in hopes of influencing your decision to use their product. Clubs of all types offer pizza and trinkets in order to influence students to attend their meetings. In the case of a candidate giving away pizza to prospective voters there is no binding pact being made. The voter can decide to vote for another candidate or not vote at all. We live in a free society that supposedly has constitutional protections for political speech and personal property. Your choice to donate as much time, money, or pizza (that you own) as a means of projecting your political speech should be completely allowable. This story is a microcosm of creeping restrictions on personal freedom, in this case it can be viewed as indoctrination of youth that such restrictions are perfectly reasonable, although they are not. What does that say about college students if their votes are for sale for a $1 slice of pizza? Everyone has a price, but geez.

The real question is how is it appropriate for the government (or an academic mini-government) to tell you what you can and cannot do with your personal property so long as you do not harm anyone? If you want to give away pizza or t-shirts to people that is your business. If someone else wants to accept your offering that is their business. What is the problem if your not-so-altruistic charity influences a future decision the recipient makes? There are numerous on-campus analogies. For example, when I was a full time student (I don’t know about today) there were credit card reps everywhere giving away all kinds of free stuff in hopes of influencing your decision to use their product. Clubs of all types offer pizza and trinkets in order to influence students to attend their meetings.

In the case of a candidate giving away pizza to prospective voters there is no binding pact being made. The voter can decide to vote for another candidate or not vote at all.

We live in a free society that supposedly has constitutional protections for political speech and personal property. Your choice to donate as much time, money, or pizza (that you own) as a means of projecting your political speech should be completely allowable. This story is a microcosm of creeping restrictions on personal freedom, in this case it can be viewed as indoctrination of youth that such restrictions are perfectly reasonable, although they are not.

]]> By: Reactionary http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11747 Reactionary Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:39:44 +0000 http://www.flashpointblog.com/2007/10/25/abridging-political-speech-on-campus-a-valuable-educational-experience/#comment-11747 McCain-Feingold in microcosm. Mmm... am I selling my vote for BBQ, catfish, and peanut brittle? Madison County Sheriff Dorning grills the tastiest chicken; I think of that chicken every time I 'pull the lever' (or, connect the arrow). McCain-Feingold in microcosm.

Mmm… am I selling my vote for BBQ, catfish, and peanut brittle?

Madison County Sheriff Dorning grills the tastiest chicken; I think of that chicken every time I ‘pull the lever’ (or, connect the arrow).

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