Futurelawyer

In 2012, We Said The Name.

#WhyIAmASolo - I Can't Be Fired For Tweets.

Has Law Prof been fired over tweets? I am sick and tired of people losing their jobs for exercising their rights to free speech. When we start restricting speech (unless it incites violence), we are traveling down a slippery slope to totalitarianism. Doesn't anyone get that? I thought we resolved this in the Sixties. Somebody needs to stand up and say "Enough!" 

#WhyIAmASolo - I Have Complete Freedom Of Speech At Work.

Free Speech Work Rights. In these times, in which political free speech is under attack on many fronts, many employees are shocked to find out that, regardless of the Constitution and Supreme Court cases on free speech, they can be fired for espousing political views at work for a private employer. In fact, State and Federal employers also maintain a strict ban on unpopular speech that has public policy implications, and the definition is murky, at best. However, when I am at work, my employer allows me to say whatever I wish, and nobody is going to fire me. Are your rights of free speech being restricted? Maybe you need a job change.

When Political Speech Becomes A Crime, What Happens To Freedom?

I believe in freedom of speech. I believe that a society of free men must tolerate speech that may be oppositional to commonly held beliefs. It doesn't matter whether the speech supports one political candidate or the other. I believe in freedom of the press. But, we appear to be in the middle of a trend to shout down those who don't share our beliefs. When I was in Law School, one of the fundamental precepts taught about freedom of speech was that any speech was permitted unless it became physically violent or encouraged violence. So, in the Sixties, anti-war protestors were free to walk in the streets. Does anyone believe that they have the right to speak their mind in the United States? We should take a lesson from this speech. What happens when we ignore laws that we disagree with?

 

Watch What You Say... You Might Offend Someone.

I used to think that political correctness was humorous. Watching reports of college snowflakes, who are being taught that they must be protected from hurt feelings, and need "safe spaces" to hide from the words spoken by someone who disagrees with them, I laughed more often than I worried. But, when cancel culture started taking jobs, and affecting the lives of those who ran afoul of the thought police, I gradually realized that this insanity could become an existential crisis. When Lenny Bruce crashed through the boundaries of good taste; but, only spoke words, it was wrong to act against him. But, free speech, over time, won the day, at least until a few years ago. If we allow the current climate to continue, there won't be much freedom left to protect. I was content to remain silent until the so called mainstream decided to allow looting, taking over city streets, and violent actions to occur, without consequence. When my beloved "Redskins" name was retired, I realized that we were long past the halfway point on a slippery slope to a place in which citizens would be afraid to speak, and worried about their physical freedom if they did. If you laugh, as I did, at this prescient cartoon, ask yourself whether your job, or your safety, or your personal freedom, is at risk. And, before you accuse me of violating my no politics rule, it is only coincidental that this issue has become politicized. I don't care what political party or persuasion you may espouse. Free speech is uniquely American. It is the most important freedom. And, it doesn't have a political side. 

So, Thailand, About That Tourist Ad Buy? Maybe Better Hold Off.

Tourist Faces Prison Time For Bad Review Of Thai Hotel. If somebody told me this story, I wouldn't believe it. Of course, living in a "relatively" free society in which it isn't a crime to state your opinion (now that I say that out loud, I am rethinking it), we really can't understand Thailand. But, I suspect that there will be many consumers who will keep their money when International travel becomes available again. Thai food will have to come from somewhere else for the time being.