So, when is a lie about someone else protected as free speech
under the First Amendment and when is it not?
Should we really need the U S Supreme Court to weigh in
on this question or do the states with laws banning “actionable infringements”
on one’s ability to protect their reputation in the justice system? I am, for
one, tired of the almost daily regurgitation of PolitiFact stating that the
latest statement made by some Republican running against some Democrat (or Vice Verse) was totally untrue (pants on fire) or just mostly false. (see http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/political/court-to-weigh-challenge-to-ban-on-campaign-lies/nfbPd/)
The tactic is used by both parties and independents as
well. It means nothing to these guys running to lie to us constantly—they don’t care one
iota.
I am open to the use of a truth commission” that would be
able to weigh in on these statements and fine the fib teller, oh heck, let’s
say $1,000,000 for each lie they put before the populous. We would soon see
just who would be willing to keep the practice going.
As a matter of fact, I would even volunteer to be the
clearing house (or finer, you might say) that levied the denomination to be
paid. The task doesn’t seem to be too challenging. We should also beef-up the
journalistic endeavors who investigate these alleged miss-steps and the cost of
operations would likely be far offset by the intake of “fine” money.
What say you?