Re: NACLA on RCTV

[raghu <mraghu01@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 6/7/07, David B. Shemano <dshemano@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Raghu writes:
> >> Once again ignoring the snideness, why do you think socialism is
> >> incompatible with freedom of expression? Surely you would admit that
> >> freedom of expression does not give you a license to broadcast
> >> propaganda that is plainly designed to sabotage and destabilise the
> >> government?
>
> The answer to your second question is that yes, it does give you the right.  The US Supreme Court, in cases dealing with the Communist Party and others, has essentially said that yes, you can advocate the sabotage and destabilization of the government (other than in wartime).


I guess we have to disagree on this. Any abstract principle such as
"freedom of speech" can only be approximated in practice. And there
are *always* limits. Even in the US - no matter what the letter of the
law says. You are dangerously naive if you really believe that someone
can broadcast Taliban propaganda today without getting attention from
the nice folks from the NSA.

That aside, it is silly to apply the same standards to the US
government and the Venezuelan government. The US government is not in
a constant state of siege from powerful external and internal forces.
Arguably Venezuela is still in a state of war and they have to defend
themselves. RCTV plainly deserved to lose their license and worse. If
that's all you have got against Chavez, you case is weak indeed.
-raghu.