Jonathan Turley has an article at The Hill that addresses the Freedom Convoy phenomenon—and its significance. I haven’t read the article, but his three tweets say a lot about where we’ve come from and where we’re headed if something doesn’t give. As I said in a comment earlier today, ‘You break it, you own it’ still applies. The implications for the future could be huge:
Turley has a good conclusion that I think applies regardless of one's political persuasion:
"Acts of civil disobedience like these will remain part of political movements. However, if we want to reduce the impulse to take to the highways to protest, then we need to open up the information superhighway for full political expression and dissent."
That said, should the "information superhighway" now be considered the only legitimate means of political expression? What about, I don't know, public gatherings and speeches and signs and demands? I am curious as to whether the rights of free speech, association, and petitioning the government for redress of grievances exist in the Canadian constitution. I know they exist in ours (in the U.S.) but then again do they de facto apply here anymore?
I don't think Turley is suggesting that the info hiway is the only legit means of political expression. Rather, I believe he is saying that when that info hiway is shut down--by censorship, cancellation, etc.--direct action becomes the only means available. He's pointing to the very real dangers of attempts to suppress dissent.
Understood. Without implicating Turley's views on the various legitimate avenues for political expression, my question sprung from his very good point. I am wondering about the current and future acceptability (and legality) of mass public political protests in both Canada and the U.S. My fear is that we might in fact be losing the rights associated with such, which have become even more crucial given the forces of censorship so active on the Internet. The government responses to January 6 and the trucker protests do not appear promising in this regard.
I'm no logistics expert, but I would tend to agree that this won't be resolved overnight. Moreover, individual Canadian provinces are acting for their own self interests at this point.
Turley has a good conclusion that I think applies regardless of one's political persuasion:
"Acts of civil disobedience like these will remain part of political movements. However, if we want to reduce the impulse to take to the highways to protest, then we need to open up the information superhighway for full political expression and dissent."
That said, should the "information superhighway" now be considered the only legitimate means of political expression? What about, I don't know, public gatherings and speeches and signs and demands? I am curious as to whether the rights of free speech, association, and petitioning the government for redress of grievances exist in the Canadian constitution. I know they exist in ours (in the U.S.) but then again do they de facto apply here anymore?
I don't think Turley is suggesting that the info hiway is the only legit means of political expression. Rather, I believe he is saying that when that info hiway is shut down--by censorship, cancellation, etc.--direct action becomes the only means available. He's pointing to the very real dangers of attempts to suppress dissent.
Understood. Without implicating Turley's views on the various legitimate avenues for political expression, my question sprung from his very good point. I am wondering about the current and future acceptability (and legality) of mass public political protests in both Canada and the U.S. My fear is that we might in fact be losing the rights associated with such, which have become even more crucial given the forces of censorship so active on the Internet. The government responses to January 6 and the trucker protests do not appear promising in this regard.
I wish more libs listened to Turley. He's only saying the sorts of things liberals used to agree with until Trump came along and broke them.
I'm no logistics expert, but I would tend to agree that this won't be resolved overnight. Moreover, individual Canadian provinces are acting for their own self interests at this point.