Here's another example how the Left seeks to increase government control by saying that they're only trying to help people.
Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, like some of our friends in Washington and the U.N., is planning to regulate the Internet. His reasoning?
Chavez's congressional allies are considering extending the "Social Responsibility Law" for broadcast media to the Internet, banning messages that "disrespect public authorities," "incite or promote hatred" or crimes, or are aimed at creating "anxiety" in the population.Government opponents and press freedom groups have been critical of the plan, saying it is one of several measures being considered that could restrict freedoms in Venezuela."We aren't eliminating the Internet here ... nor censoring the Internet," Chavez said during his weekly television and radio program, "Hello, President." "What we're doing is protecting ourselves against crimes, cybercrimes, through a law."
Obviously, Chavez will use this law to silence his political opposition and solidify his power. But he can't say that, so he tells his people that he is merely protecting them.
The "we're just trying to protect you" line is popular among Statists in this country as well. From gun control ("we're just trying to protect people from accidentally shooting themselves") to school food ("we're just trying to protect kids from unhealthy food") to the Fairness Doctrine ("we're just trying to protect you from one-sided political speech"), Progressives can sell their plan for all-encompassing government control to an unwitting public.
Eric Ingemunson's commentary has been featured on Hannity, CNN, NBC, Inside Edition, and KFI's The John and Ken Show.
Eric was born and raised in Ventura County and currently resides in Moorpark. He earned a master's degree in Public Policy and Administration from California Lutheran University. As a conservative, Eric supports smaller government, less taxation, more individual freedom, the rule of law, and a strict adherence to the Constitution.
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