The Fulcrum and the Lever (was Re: [wta-talk] more stupid legislative tricks etc)

From: Brett Paatsch (paatschb@ocean.com.au)
Date: Sat Mar 01 2003 - 12:04:12 MST

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    Samantha Atkins wrote:

    > What really needs to be stopped is the very idea, any legitimacy
    > granted at all to the idea that it is a reasonable function of
    > government, within the purview of government to wield any such
    > broad powers. As long as it is excepted as legitimate there
    > will always be the danger of such irresponsible massive blows.
    > Do not give as fickle and dangerous a Beast as government this
    > kind of power. Chain it and quickly. How? There's the rub.

    How do we be *effective* within democracies? Excellent question.

    We have just one vote each. But far, far more importantly, we have
    in open societies the right to free speech, including free speech about
    government and free speech about policy.

    The right sort of knowledge can be power indeed when it is coupled
    with passion and a willingness to effect policy through the prudent
    exercise of the right to free speech. A precious right which generations
    before us have bequeathed us with their blood. A vote is just one vote.
    But knowledge is the fulcrum and free speech is the lever. With these,
    even one person can move the world.

    So what do you *know*? How *strong* is your fulcrum? What
    will you say with your precious right to speech?R

    - Brett Paatsch



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