Creeds, ethics postings and mission statements are worth exactly nothing.
I never even
suggested that journalists had no rights. How could you derive that from my statements?
Journalists have lots of power. They could print that H1N5 has started jumping from human to human in New York and cause a mass panic. They have to weigh responsibl reporting every day.
Absolutely right. You completely validate my point that there exists both responsible and irresponsible reporting. Which is exactly what I said, isn't it?
Your ideas that state security is the trump card in all situations is pretty scary.
Excuse me? I most specifically did NOT make any such suggestion, and I'll thank you not to twist my actual words, which were;
Please let's not reduce this to some simple counterpoint suggesting that I think the government can do as it pleases, and that I'll gladly give up my individual rights and freedoms to "get the bad guys". In fact, we need to take a considered look at each case, and try to understand that these matters are complex and difficult. Protecting our rights is critical...as is maintaining and securing the system that recognizes those rights. Sometimes, these principles can be necessarily at odds, hence, the complexities.
Once again...oversimplification of the issue is one of the root problems with discussing it. This stuff is just NOT as black and white as some would like to make it.
Hap:
Winning an election does not create knowledge, rectitude, wisdom, etc.
I agree with you completely. In fact, it seems quite self-evident. However, my actual point is that at least We the People had an opportunity, some input, into the choosing of legislators to represent our interests, and act on our behalf. If they fail to do so to our satisfaction, who do we really have to blame? Ourselves, and we vote another choice in to do the job.
No reporter/editor, making independent, financially-driven decisions about what amounts to national security and what doesn't, was ever part of a process involving the implicit auspices and approval of the American public.
If the government we have elected must declare certain information as classified, we have to accept that that's a absolute necessity in the real world.
If we discover that this power is being abused, we have recourse. In the absence of illegality, abuse or corruption, printing classified information in the newspaper is a crime.
