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We do actually have these freedoms in our constitutuional documents but they've been ignored for well over a century. In fact, the new Eu constitition also has a right to freedom of expresion, but it's got a qualifier along the lines of 'anything that we don't like doesn't count as free speech'. If we wrote a new English constitition, given the current political environment, you can bet that similar wording would turn up in that as well. Rather we'd be better off simply enforcing what already exists. Our rights are well defined. The documents defining them are old, and many people don't even know they exist anymore - they've bought the often repeated lie that we have an 'unwritten' constitution - but they're there in magna carta, the acts of union and the bill of rights. Our freedom of speech and assembly were guaranteed under the bill of rights (along with the right to bear arms and the right to trial by jury in a court of one's peers) which, admitted, primarily deal with the rights of parliament but which also gave those rights to the people of this country. The bill of rights is the treaty between the king and the people on which the sovereignty of parliament rests, and so if parliament wishes to continue its existence it should carry out its duty and enforce those rights and that treaty. We wouldn't need Civitas to tell us what rights we need if it were doing its job properly.

You americans, learn a lesson from this. You can have the best constitution in the world, but it will mean crap all if it isn't defended and enforced.

I think its slightly ironic that in a country where freedom of speech is supposed to be enshrined in your bill of rights or constitution or whatever the hell it is, has such a limited shitty conservative media. Liberal my arse, the first thing any visitor who comes to your country and watches the news will notice is just how conservative and inward looking it is. Im surprised that some of you even know that the world exists beyond Canada and Mexico. Most of you couldnt point to Iraq and Afghanistan on a world map, despite the US being at war with them.

Jay, you have no idea who you're talking about. You're just rephraseing Moore's line about "the dumbest **** is smarter than the smartest American".

Most of you couldnt point to Iraq and Afghanistan on a world map, despite the US being at war with them.

Isn't that more the fault of 30 years of "liberal" education policies?

Due to my upbringing (humble though it was), I can speak more knowledgeably than most of my liberal co-workers and acquaintainces re: international culture and history even though I can't afford to travel overseas. Guess "Jay" never considered that geopgraphic isolation and lack of funds has prevented most Americans from having closer contact with other countries. Furthermore, judging from the incredible socialist and terrorist crap we've witnessed firsthand and indirectly, I'd say it's a good thing we're isolated. We don't need more foreign sewage washing up on our shores.

Jimmy Carter is, was, and always will be two things: The WORST President we ever had and
2. An asshole!