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. One small step for tyrants one giant step for totalitarianism. Does this hold legal precedence for the corrupt if it stands?

Tennessee Town Sparks Free Speech Debate After Banning Negative Online Comments
Dec. 16, 2014 10:26pm Mike Opelka


A new social networking policy just approved by a small Tennessee town has some questioning if the move infringes on the First Amendment.

South Pittsburg, on the banks of the Tennessee River, is a town of just over 3,100 people. At the town’s most recent monthly meeting on December 9, the city council approved a measure that would restrict any employee, elected official, contractor or person doing business with the city from posting negative comments about South Pittsburg on Facebook or Twitter.

They are calling it an “all-inclusive” social media policy. However, it specifically excludes any posts that could be considered negative or critical of the town, its policies or the people running South Pittsburg.

According to a published report in the Chattanooga Times Free Press, all city employees will have to sign a document that acknowledges the policy. But the sweeping new action does not stop with city employees. The restriction also applies to volunteers, appointed or elected officials, vendors and any person who is acting in an official capacity for South Pittsburg. There are currently no criminal penalties attached to the new rule, but employees can be reprimanded.

Comments like the one below started showing up on Twitter after news of the policy started circling on the Internet:

South Pittsburg is armpit of TN. It’s this awful place that saps the life from your body. Horrible, horrible. Do not visit! @MarionCountyTN

— John (@ExFoxNewsFan) December 16, 2014

A search of the past few months revealed no angry tweets mentioning South Pittsburg. If they existed prior to the new policy, perhaps they were removed.

TheBlaze attempted to contact Mayor Jane Dawkins, city attorney Billy Gouger and all five city commissioners for comment. We were initially told the mayor was out for the day and referred to another commissioner, Sammy Burrows. At press time, Burrows had not returned our calls or requests for a copy of the minutes from the recent meeting.

Efforts to speak with the city attorney about the limiting nature of the new policy were also unsuccessful. However, Gouger had previously been quoted, stating, ”It does, to some extent, limit your ability to criticize or comment in an official capacity.”

When we made contact with Commissioner Jeff Powers and asked for a comment on the new policy, Power was abrupt, stating, “No comment.” Adding, “There is no issue.”

The Times Free Press managed to get Powers to respond a day earlier. When asked if the policy was blocking people from posting on social media, Powers rejected that thinking, telling the paper, “Well, you can. Just not [anything] that sheds a negative light on any person, entity, board or things of that nature.”

He followed up with, “You can go ahead and post all you want.”

The remaining three commissioners, Ronnie Lancaster, Jimmy Wigfall and the only dissenting vote, Paul Don King, were contacted at their home numbers. Not one has returned the calls or responded to our request.

Continuing a fine new American tradition, it appears hackers have entered the home of Sony pictures. Because of threats, a satire, THE INTERVIEW, will not be seen in movie theaters any time soon.

In an effort to silence any one with a different POV they have succeeded. In an effort to protect the feelings of all, our last lyrics to our national anthem should be... The land of the stupid and the home of the mute.

There is no bravery, in NOT standing up to tyranny, and no freedom in accepted forced silence and censorship.

Slacker and Glenn ... I am afraid to comment on this flagrant stupidity and obvious violation of the Constitution and all that is held Sacred and Good for Humanity itself ... because I fear it might colour somewhat my online image and get me into some kind of trouble. I hope that you understand because I would not want to be considered a coward but please do not ring me as I will not return your call ... just because I am sooo busy doing what my job is and what I was appointed or elected to do ... after all I did take an Oath and make a "promise" to the "people".

IT NEARS....

free speech on a website that is private property is debatable as to whether the oral right to free speech is allowable, especially free speech which is untrue.. free speech up on the public square in broad daylight should never be censored..unless you are plagiarizing somebody

"At the town’s most recent monthly meeting on December 9, the city council approved a measure that would restrict any employee, elected official, contractor or person doing business with the city from posting negative comments about South Pittsburg on Facebook or Twitter."

"free speech on a website that is private property is debatable as to whether the oral right to free speech is allowable, especially free speech which is untrue.. free speech up on the public square in broad daylight should never be censored..unless you are plagiarizing somebody"

Facebook and twitter are most certainly NOT privately owned by the city. To say little about blackmailing companies and people who do business with the city. And you see nothing wrong or disturbing about that? It sounds like your post is in defense of this deplorable bunch of tyrants.

One man against a whole government... Two thousand and fifteen years later, his free speech was not denied. Seems to me it is remembered more and more. Just saying.

Jesus did not oppose the government. He had no reasonto stand up to them. As one explores the scriptures it becomes obvious he was pretty much indifferent to the powers that be, knowing Himself to be God.

Given the Reality of which He was aware, all this must sound pretty silly in the halls of heaven. I'm glad He is so very patient.

Countries, politicians, rights, wars and rumors of wars. It all starts to just stack up into a big bunch of bugger all.

Talbot

stay warm Slacker, wear plenty of layered clothing if you go outside.. signed Big Mutha.. LOL

Actually Talbot he did oppose the government, by the very nature of the fact that he wouldn't shut up.
The government of the day elected to silence Jesus as a method of permanent censorship. A method to secure the continued lawless of a government gone wild....

We know how well that worked out.

Thanks for your continued input.

DO NOT PLAY GUITAR IF YOU HAVE FROST BITE ON YOUR FINGERS. Seek immediate medical attention if they start to turn black as it could indicate a serious medical condition.

This has been a public service announcement.

Actually Talbot he did oppose the government, by the very nature of the fact that he wouldn't shut up.
The government of the day elected to silence Jesus as a method of permanent censorship. A method to secure the continued lawless of a government gone wild....

We know how well that worked out.

Thanks for your continued input.

It was the religious (Sadducees & Sanhedrin) who saw Him as a threat and coerced the Roman Governor into a death sentence. Even Pontious Pilate was surprised at how much they wanted him dead, that's why he sarcastically offered a known dangerous criminal (Barabbas) in exchange, to show them how much they were contradicting their own Law. This is also why he washed his hands in front of them, symbolic of refusing responsibility of executing an innocent person






What you saw in Paris this week (and the link in my signature) is a good example of people who don't like free speech.


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DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TUNE YOUR GUITAR WITH A MODULATION EFFECT ON. Turn all modulation effects off, when attempting to tune your guitar. This includes, but is not limited to; Flangers, Phasers, Auto Wah, (some) Reverb Units, Univibe, Tremolo, Pitch Shifter, Whammy Pedal and Rotary Speaker Simulators. Failure to do so could cause you to tune your guitar to sound like "ASS", or the undesirable "My Dog Has Anthrax, Siphilis and Ringworm" tuning!

Thanks for the public announcement Schmed. I couldn't agree more. Here's one... When sighting in a rifle, it is not encouraged to look down the barrel, pull the trigger, and try to see if there is any accuracy.

Thanks Yod, I often fail to explain the obvious. Stupid me... I sorta give more credit to the average person than I should. The wall is painted black. UH no. It looks white...

By the way... Never attempt to tune your guitar... Without any strings on it.

It appears I was posting half asleep in this thread last night. I took the bait from the previous *ahem* poster, thought this was the PSA thread. Can I get a mulligan?

Glen

"We know how well that worked out. "

Yes. Exactly as planned. Luck for us eh?!

Like He mentioned once - 'don't worry about the man that can kill you - worry about He who can throw you into Hell!"

Talbot