Wal*Mart
One wonders who Maryland Governor Ehrlich's campaign contributors may have been. Last Thursday he vetoed a bill aimed at the retail baron, which required companies employing over 10,000 people to spend 8 percent of their payroll on healthcare or send it to the state's healthcare funds. Not unreasonable, considering that some Wal-Mart employees are forced to rely on Medicaid because they're paid so poorly. Seems the state has some interest in ensuring that companies operating within its borders treat its citizens fairly, given that the state is accountable for those healthcare costs eventually.
Oh, and democracy watch:
He was greeted by a high school band playing on a blocked-off downtown street lined with American flags. About two dozen protesters turned out, but were forbidden from displaying signs.
Speaking as someone who's been forbidden to display signs, I must ask: what possible reason could there be for not permitting such free speech on this occasion? What in the world was used as justification for violating these folks' rights?
Oh, and democracy watch:
He was greeted by a high school band playing on a blocked-off downtown street lined with American flags. About two dozen protesters turned out, but were forbidden from displaying signs.
Speaking as someone who's been forbidden to display signs, I must ask: what possible reason could there be for not permitting such free speech on this occasion? What in the world was used as justification for violating these folks' rights?
posted by onlooker at 1:27 AM
2 Comments:
What is the actual law here? Are authorities just counting on folks being cowed into submission? If there is no justification, maybe some counter actions could stir up fear on the other side, and stop them from hindering legal free speech.
My experience is that the law doesn't matter a whole lot, as the threat of arrest can be real even if there's no legal justification. The inconvenience is enough that most people are more willing to quiet down than be detained. I know I've been threatened with arrest (and arrested) when it certainly wasn't justifiable.
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