Sunday, October 15, 2006
 
Amendment .viv
Here's how Amendment I of the United States Constitution used to read:
    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.
Well, that was before the government began taking its normal vigorish off of the top. Latest evidence:
    Police officers arrested Earl Hogan, the president of the Venice-Tri City Lions Club, on Saturday as Hogan tried to lead a small procession of cars into the city for a parade.

    The Board of Aldermen had denied Hogan and the Lions Club a parade permit earlier this month, but Hogan said lack of a permit wouldn't stop the parade. Lions clubs are holding numerous events this weekend to raise money for charitable causes.

    Officers who handcuffed Hogan and took him to the station called the arrest "unfortunate" but said they had no choice.

    "We have to do our job," said Police Chief Shawn Tyler after the arrest.

    Hogan was cited for unlawful assembly and released after about 30 minutes. His fine could range from $100 to $1,000, Tyler said.
After the addition of the crime of unlawful assembly and Mark of McCain-Feingold, how's that amendment looking now?
    Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of the press; or the right of the people peaceably petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Much more economical. The fewer rights, the more the citizens can enjoy them, right?


- posted by Brian J. @ 9:07 PM
Comments:
A gem in the article states that the board of aldermen denied the parade permit on the grounds that one alderman "did not want a parade to become politicized in favor of a particular candidate."

So as to prevent any thought crimes, it seems that the city used its police powers to oppress some of its presumably few citizens not currently commiting crimes. (Venice has a crime index nearly twice the national average, according to a city-data.com.)

It seems that the city of Venice fears its law-abiding citizens more than the criminal element.

Also, somehow I doubt the ACLU will come rusing to Mr. Hogan's defense, unless it discovers that the city has a noninclusive Christmas sign lurking somewhere.

Sorry for the rambling comment, it's late...
# posted by Blogger gimlet : Monday, October 16, 2006 1:28:00 AM
 


It certainly is a shame that we have to read about good people being arrested. Too bad Earl Hogan broke the law, or else the story would be quite different. Two wrongs still don't make a right. If Earl felt that his rights were being violated he should have launched a public campaign and possibly a law suit against the Board of Aldermen. I'll wager that he would have received tremendous coverage if he played his cards right, and his original message could have had a far larger audience.

What we SHOULD be reading, is an article explaining the corrupt nature of the Board, and the illegal activity of its members. Instead, Earl threw himself in the fire to be criminalized... and his record could now damage his credibility in any future attempts to shed light on the dispicible behavior of the city.

Better to attack your enemy lawfully, than walk into the trap and be criminalized. ..but that's just my opinion.

W.S.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Monday, October 16, 2006 10:29:00 AM
 


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