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Democratic Voices

August 4, 2003

INTERNET CRIME and INTERNET FREEDOM

There is an increasing push from the Republican Right to expand the role of federal police in the regulation of the Internet. Recently, Bill O’Reilly has added a call to create a new set of special federal courts to control the Internet. This is an extremely bad idea and O’Reilly demonstrates why in his arguments in favor of this vast expansion of federal power.

Serious crime does exist on the Internet. Sexual predators do try to prey on minors. Fraud and con schemes are very common. Unethical and illegal business practices are an increasing problem. Copyright infringement is crippling the music business and damaging the movie industry. Unwanted pornography is far too common. Junk mail is actually decreasing American productivity. Some federal legislation does seem warranted. A vast expansion of federal power over the Internet is definitely not warranted. The creation of special courts for the Internet is potentially dangerous.

Few Americans will add another big complaint often cited by Bill O’Reilly that anyone on the Internet can write pretty much whatever they want about public figures in chat rooms, message boards and blogs. O’Reilly sees a problem and possibly a crime. We see the great strength of the Internet at work. The Internet remains the one venue where our Constitutional Freedom of Speech can be effectively exercised without large amounts of money. The Internet is not totally under the control of Corporate America. Unfortunately, our government is because the Bush Republicans (read Corporate Republicans) completely control all branches of the federal government. These same forces also own all the major media outlets including cable news, TV networks, newspaper chains, radio station networks and major magazines.

All political forces that do not follow the Corporate political line are heavily dependent on the Internet. Corporate media voices like Bill O’Reilly and Fox News may really dislike these non-Corporate voices and feel threatened by websites like Bill O’Reilly Sucks but they strengthen our Democracy! Bush, Delay, Cheney and Ashcroft do not like sites such as, http://www.Buzzflash.com, http://www.OpEdNews.com and http://www.truthout.org giving us unreported news like the Texas Bush sexual assault lawsuit ignored by the Corporate Media.

Column written by Stephen Crockett and Al Lawrence (hosts of Democratic Talk Radio which is nationally syndicated on the ieAmerica Radio Network). You can hear them via the Internet several days a week from 2-4pm Central at http://www.ieAmericaRadio.com. You are invited to visit the Democratic Talk Radio site at DemocraticTalkRadio.com. They can be reached by mail at: 7A Planville Drive, Fayetteville, TN 37334. Reach DTR by phone at 931-438-1500 or 443-421-0287.

Sincerely,
Stephen Crockett
Al Lawrence
Co-hosts: “Current Affair” News Talk Program
WEKR 1240 am radio
(931) 433-3545


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