[susanjacobs]

A lot of this is thinking aloud... so I hope it makes sense...

I haven't lived in the US for almost a decade now. Things have changed a lot since I lived there. The War on Terror and 9/11 have changed the face of things. Some of the very essence of what makes the US great (such as the Bill of Rights) is being slowly eaten away all in the name of National Security. Even people I know who voted for Bush bitch about how rights are being taken away. Terrorism and fear DO NOT mean that the US or any other country should have their basic rights taken from them.

There are some state laws that try to restrict free speech and free press. I know that schools have the right to close down newspapers and restrict articles that don't fit with the school's policies. Another right -- free press -- protected by the Bill of Rights. I was editor of my Uni's newspaper and I ran across this all the time. Yes, I was censored, and it was legal. Believe me, I checked with some law experts because I was FURIOUS. It sucked and was legal. School papers and regular newspapers are governed by different laws to some degree.

What happens with laws on limits of free speech in the US is someone -- be it Congress or a state level congress -- makes a law. It goes into effect. Someone then challenges it in court. It then goes through various levels of the judicial system. Then it can make it to the US Supreme Court. The Court is all part of the checks and balances. It is supposed to be only accountable to the Constitution, but I know that isn't always how it works. The Court usually errs on the side of Free Speech. If Bushy has his way, I fear this will no longer be the case. Oh, and kiss Roe v. Wade good-bye.

The Supreme Court process isn't the best, but the Court does uphold many basic rights. It can make some really bad decisions too (separate but equal is coming to mind). Luckily, it usually works itself out. I hope this period is just an adjustment, and the US will go back to the ideals set out for them by their Fore-Fathers.

Neither system is perfect. I would rather live here than the US. One thing about the laws of this land is that I don't have to really worry about random rednecks with guns trying to kill me because I said something mean about his trailer. May the gods bless Australia...