Or innocent chitchat? Prime Minister Abe is keen on passing the law against evil conspiracies. The law would criminalize the mere discussion of crime (without any crimes actually having been committed–except, of course, the crime of speech). While differences abound, the direction of this effort is similar to the various holes being drilled into previous protections of privacy in the U.S. To perceived threats to social order, some democratic governments are quick to chisel away liberties that are the foundation of the democracies they are supposedly defending. The worst aspect of the Patriot Act/anti-Conspiracy species of laws is that the dangers–from terrorism, crime, whatever, are largely overblown. What do you think?
January 21, 2007 at 7:56 am
I think that dangerous gang of radicals that meet in Murphy’s under the guise of drinking pints should be the first to be locked up when this necessary legislation is introduced!
Thanks for the comment, and linking to my blog. I’ll return the compliment when I figure out how.