> Also, the point has been made before -- can you imagine if a tv network > would advocate antigovernment policies. They don't even report very much > on antipolitical activities, except to denounce the protestors or make > them seem ridiculous. > > > > Michael Perelman > Economics Department > California State University > Chico, Ca > 95929
I'm not sure that's a very strong argument, to be quite honest. So far all the arguments here I've seen for Chavez' suppression of RCTV consist of "they were undermining the government" or "advocating antigovernment policies". Well, guess what a vast majority of people would say about socialists and socialist news sources? What if President Bush decided tomorrow to suppress Air America or even just The Militant because they "advocate antigovernment policies", or "undermine the government"? Or Blair does the same with the Weekly Worker, which after all explicitly states it supports revolution against the existing monarchy? I think we wouldn't hear as much support here. Now I don't think this is really a free speech issue (rather détournement de pouvoir if anything), but this argument can backfire really badly. Matthijs Krul
