quote:The Justice Department is opposing a bipartisan effort on Capitol Hill to protect journalists from having to reveal confidential sources, calling the legislation "bad public policy" that would impair the administration's ability "to effectively enforce the law and fight terrorism."
posted
I'm very torn on this issue, believe it or not. On the one hand, I am very much in favor of free speech and investigative journalism in order to provide free, truthful debate and bring us closer to a democratic ideal.
On the other hand, the press is one of the largest political influences in the nation and they essentially have free reign. When the president does something you don't like, you don't vote for him next time. Same goes for Congress. The Supreme Court has to go through nasty appointment procedures in order to be in power. But the press can report untruthful stories (CBS news), or superficial, irrelevant stories (anyone remember the JIMMY CARTER HAS LUST IN HIS HEART story?), or simply look for dirt to dig up to sell more copies. And pretty much the only thing you can do is not buy their work - but that doesn't mean you can avoid hearing what they report. Business or not, they have a huge and unrestrained impact upon our country. As a business, they don't need to (or can't be forced to) conform to ethics for the greater good.
However, throwing people in jail is probably not the best idea. Leaks have evolved to be a part of governing, used both for and against the government. This is probably not the best part of the press to try and exert control over. However, the press as a whole can be a fairly difficult issue, when you think about it.
Posts: 2258 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
What are the general thoughts on the right of the government to force grand jury testimony from average citizens via threat of jail? Do people still think this is justified?
Defendants have the right to compel testimony at trial. Should the government have matching rights? The much broader discovery power afforded by the grand jury? Something in between?
Posts: 26071 | Registered: Oct 2003
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