In a message dated 7/8/2004 5:25:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Dan Dobson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>My question to those of you who say that politics >should not be allowed at Taste of Minnesota or the >Farmer's Market is, where do you draw the line? > >Who decides who gets in and who doesn't? > >Again, I think the First �Amendment allows everyone >in: Wellstone Democrats, Pro-Lifers, Klaners, etc. Let >the marketplace of ideas rule, not Mr. Gerten or Ron >Maddox. > Dan, I think the real question is then, how much do we want to have private events on public lands? If we want private groups to hold festivals or events where they want/need control in order to hold the event then for the day the public land becomes private land. I don't think that I am giving up my first amendment rights when I allow someone else to take control of a piece of public land to hold a private event. If I want to protest or picket, get signatures on a petition I can do it across the street, and still get access to a crowd. The event holder is bringing the crowd together to be a part of an event and to make a buck. The crowd that you and I are trying to put the touch on wouldn't be there but for the event. You and I can go down to Harriet Island today and protest, picket and petition, but nobody is there because the Taste isn't there today! So, if your demands to have access to the crowd would discourage the event holder from having the event, we are in the same place (seeking signature in an empty lot) and the public suffers from not having the opportunity to have the event. Kinda like smoking indoors we might have a first amendment right to be there, but if it makes the event go somewhere else then we are just being rude. J.M.O.N.T.O.M.E.P.P.O.F. Chuck (political hack) Repke _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
