[billybudd]

So it begins.

[LenS]

So it begins.

Good.

They can start by arresting the librarians mentioned in this article, and sending them off to live in the Arab world. That way they can discover what real oppression is like.

[Kerberos]

On the one hand I understand that we have an increased need to protect ourselves here. But by the same token, when I read through this article, I get a real unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach.

All I can say is that I hope they don't check out my library account. They would find out that I have been reading books on the Constitution and that might not go over real big with some liberals.

[EBUCK]

Yes is does. What books have you been reading lately? Chances are you are on a list of "un-desirables" already. Better start getting your books mail-order and anonymous to boot.

EBUCK

[kjam22]

A couple of things that immediately strike me. 1) I haven't been to a public library since about 1975. Any library since about 1979. I'm not sure who spends their time sitting a library reading materials or surfing the web. I'm guessing it is someone that can't afford to buy a 10 dollar book from Amazon.com.... or someone that can't buy a $150 166 mhz computer and pay $9 for an internet connection.

2) It is a public library. Meaning it is owned by the people. (the government) It's not a private library for persons to do private business in. Just as one would expect a private library or a private school to be able to make its own rules about how it functions, so one would expect a public library to have rules that are made by its owners (the public). And the public makes those rules through its elected governmental represenatives.

The constitution is a wonderful document. But it isn't the inspired word of God. And there is no way that our founding fathers invisioned 21st century America with all of its complexities. That's the beauty of the constitution... it leaves ways for the public to make laws and decisions that effect their lives into an unpredictable future.