The Trend of Americas Declining Liberty - Bill Wilson - dailyjot Reporters without borders has released its 2014 World Press Freedom Index, which ranks the nations of the world by their freedom of the press. The report says, The ranking of some countries has also been affected by a tendency to interpret national security needs in an overly broad and abusive manner to the detriment of the right to inform and be informed. This trend constitutes a growing threat worldwide and is even endangering freedom of information in countries regarded as democracies. Normal suspects such as North Korea and Eritrea (which persecutes Christians with impunity) are ranked at the bottom. But one country, usually a leader in freedom of the press, fell an alarming 13 places. The United States, the true founder of the free press with its Constitution guaranteeing such, fell from its rank of 33rd to 46th. Equally amazing are the reasons. The report says: Countries that pride themselves on being democracies and respecting the rule of law have not set an example, far from it. Freedom of information is too often sacrificed to an overly broad and abusive interpretation of national security needs, marking a disturbing retreat from democratic practices. Investigative journalism often suffers as a result. This has been the case in the United States (46th), which fell 13 places, one of the most significant declines, amid increased efforts to track down whistleblowers and the sources of leaks. The report said that NSA analyst Edward Snowden was a warning to all thinking of assisting in the disclosure of sensitive information that would clearly be in the public interest. This Administrations spying on and tracking down whistleblowers and journalists, the report says, is a reminder of the need to protect the confidentiality of journalists sources at the federal level. The report mentions James Risen of the New York Times, who has been ordered by the court to testify against a former CIA employee accused of leaking classified information. The report mentions Barrett Brown, a young freelance journalist facing 105 years in prison for posting information that hackers obtained from Strafor, a private intel company. Couple these things with the growing unilateral power assumed by the occupant of the Oval Office, and one has a tyrannical storm approaching at a fast rate. He joked on February 10, Thats the good thing about being president, I can do whatever I want. And he has. By Executive Order, he has changed the socialist health care law some 27 times. Also by decree, he softened political asylum rules, now allowing refugees who provide terrorists limited material support. There are a host of other tyrannies well reported in the news. Congress will not act. The elected appear complicit. We need an Ephesians 6:20 moment from all people loving Godly righteousness--that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Freedom of speech springs from religious freedom. You cant have one without the other. We had better act.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Feb 2014 18:59:50 +0000
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