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Free speech is under attack in Wisconsin
Milwaukee J-S ^ | 18 aug 2015 | Eric Botts

Posted on 08/18/2015 3:25:50 AM PDT by rellimpank

Milwaukee's John Doe investigation may be over, but free speech is still under attack in Wisconsin.

The John Doe investigation illustrated the dangers free speech faces today. Based on an unconstitutional legal theory — one the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled was "unsupported in either reason or law" — government agents reportedly stormed the homes of private citizens in pre-dawn raids, seized their electronics, denied their right to speak with an attorney, and in at least one case held a child without allowing him to see or speak to his parents — all because they took an active interest in public policy.

This is scary stuff. But while this shameful episode has concluded, the attack on free speech remains. Its latest form is a growing movement for so-called "public disclosure" laws — liberal-speak for government reporting of your private giving. These laws require that certain nonprofit organizations report all of their donors to the government, including name, home address, employer and other personal information. Government officials then publish that information for anyone to see.

Government reporting advocates claim it is an innocent transparency measure that will combat political corruption. But don't be fooled. The reason some want donor information is so they can harass and intimidate those holding different political views, with the ultimate goal of shutting them up. This movement strikes at the heart of America's very being and should be stamped out before it engulfs our democracy in flames.

--(snip)

Consider the case of Maria's Pizzaria. Last year, a union activist photographed a political sign in the front yard of an owner of the venerable Milwaukee establishment. After a mean-spirited post to social media, calls for a boycott of the family-owned small business ensued.

(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: freespeech; wisconsin
--surprised the J-S let this slip in---
1 posted on 08/18/2015 3:25:50 AM PDT by rellimpank
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To: rellimpank
Think about that for a second. Just because these private citizens hold certain political beliefs, they were identified, harassed and intimidated. This is precisely what government reporting laws would enable. As these examples illustrate, it has nothing to do with transparency and everything to do with silencing opponents.

America voted for "hope and change". One change we received was the open use of government as a progressive tool against political opponents.

2 posted on 08/18/2015 4:06:25 AM PDT by Senator_Blutarski
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To: rellimpank

“John Doe” may be over for the citizens, (Are we so sure that no other citizens are still under gag order?) the prosecution of those instigated “John Doe” (Chrisholms and those nameless judges he relied on) should be front and center news 24/7.

As for the government want names for donation to NGOs will result in government absorbing NGOs eventually. (Their path to Single Payer similarly.) Think about it for a sec.


3 posted on 08/18/2015 4:36:14 AM PDT by Sir Napsalot (Pravda + Useful Idiots = CCCP; JournOList + Useful Idiots = DopeyChangey!)
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To: rellimpank

Where was Walker while all this was happening?


4 posted on 08/18/2015 5:21:14 AM PDT by Fantasywriter (Any attempt to do forensic work using Internet artifacts is fraught with pitfalls. JoeProbono)
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To: Fantasywriter

—HE WAS THE PRIMARY TARGET OF THE ATTACK-—


5 posted on 08/18/2015 5:52:51 AM PDT by rellimpank (--don't believe anything the media or government says about firearms or explosives--)
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To: rellimpank

Please explain that. Was his house raided? Were his electronics confiscated? Did they abduct one of his children?


6 posted on 08/18/2015 5:55:25 AM PDT by Fantasywriter (Any attempt to do forensic work using Internet artifacts is fraught with pitfalls. JoeProbono)
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To: Fantasywriter
—HE WAS THE PRIMARY TARGET OF THE ATTACK-— And under a gag order.
7 posted on 08/18/2015 1:47:23 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Fantasywriter
Please explain that. Was his house raided? Were his electronics confiscated? Did they abduct one of his children?

No, but they harrassed many of his aides and campaign workers.

8 posted on 08/18/2015 1:49:12 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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