[deepsand]

dantynan, on 03 May 2012 - 10:09 AM, said:

AtlasFriedman, on 30 April 2012 - 06:07 AM, said:

RDunn, on 29 April 2012 - 11:53 AM, said:

A 'like' is expressing an opinion... in this case, tantamount to a political endorsement and that is 'speech' and free in this country. (And if that endorsement is what prompted the firing... no matter if it's in opposition to your employer, political expression is protected.) If the case goes to a higher court, the judge's decision (failing to provide protection) will be overturned, I'm sure. And too bad for the sherrif, can't have just yes-men working for him.

I believe it would be worthwhile for you to take the time to read the single paragraph which constitutes our First Amendment.

Nowhere in that amendment, does it say that you can say anything you want with no consequences. Indeed, that would be stupid, and impossible to enforce.

What it DOES say, is that CONGRESS cannot make laws abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.

The problem here is that employer in this instance is not a private entity, it's an office of the state. And the states are required to uphold the First Amendment just as much as the Federal government is. The man was running for elective office, his employees engaged in speech he disapproved of, and he terminated their employment as punishment. IANAL, but that looks like a clear breach of the First Amendment to me.

To repeat, not all speech is protected.

And, a reading of the Judge's memorandum, which has been earlier presented here, shows that he found that the speech in question was of a personal nature, not that of a public interest.

[joeyjohns]

IarrthoirFirinne, on 29 April 2012 - 09:59 AM, said:

What a friggin joke how pathetic is this country going to get. I think facebook needs to be shut down.

If only we had some sort of Congress of citizens to abridge it.

[deepsand]

joeyjohns, on 04 May 2012 - 11:12 AM, said:

IarrthoirFirinne, on 29 April 2012 - 09:59 AM, said:

What a friggin joke how pathetic is this country going to get. I think facebook needs to be shut down.

If only we had some sort of Congress of citizens to abridge it.

Is anyone forced to use Facebook?

And, if you're going to go down the path of abridging the Right of Association, why stop at FB?

[Evildave]

People in America aren't forced to drive cars, either.

There just don't happen to be public transit, bicycle lanes, or even sidewalks in 99% of America.

So you're free to live without a car, but the likelihood of you (or yours) being killed goes up substantially without one. Not to mention being severely limited in economic opportunities, and poverty kills as surely as bullets do.

If cars are a 'privilege', where is our RIGHT to walk from one point to another, safely?

Like handing over our freedom to big oil and the auto industry, a lot of crap is being 'facebook enabled' online, such that it is inaccessible without Facebook. You're certainly free not to use Facebook, but keep in mind that comments and forums and various other online services that used to exist for you, will no longer be accessible to you.

[Excalibur]

Another waste of perfectly good photons.

[imageMINI]

Does anyone recall hearing about Germany banning the "Like" button to prevent infringement of citizens Privacy from social marketing tracking interests and whatnot.?