The First Amendment and Counterculture Websites

The First Amendment and How it Protects Counterculture Websites

Photo Credit to HR Daily Advisor

In the eyes of anyone who reads the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment is loaded with personal protections and liberties which were revolutionary at the time of its ratification. Nearly 250 years later, the protections of free speech, right to petition the government, to establish and exercise religion, freedom of the press, and peaceful protest are still integral building blocks of American society. In regards to counterculture websites, the protections offered by the First Amendment are king, and are imperative to web content creator's rights.

Sites that challenge cultural norms or ideals, such as ANTIWAR.com or the American Conservative, are given nearly unrestricted free reign to publish and talk about any topics, no matter the level of controversy in their subject matter.

In other forms of government, publications who openly question the Chief Executive or Congress would face major backlash or be silenced through imprisonment or death. In the Constitutional Republic we know as the American Federal government, our leaders are elected by the people and for the people. These elected officials must follow the laws of the land, just like any average citizen. With these laws come citizen's rights to hate politicians and speak out against them.

Websites and the people behind them must remain unrestricted in their freedoms of the press and free speech, in order for American citizens to remain as the freest people on Earth. The First Amendment was drafted by James Madison to grant 6 aforementioned freedoms that no government had ever previously granted its citizens. By retaining these rights through almost 2-and-a-half centuries, America has held its spot as the society with the most personal liberties and protection for citizens.

Links to ANTIWAR, American Conservative
Photo Credit to HR Daily Advisor 

The Supreme Court

Why the Average American Should Care about the Supreme Court

Photo Credit to the Washington Post

Known as the Highest Court in the land, the United States Supreme Court serves an integral role in government as well as in upholding the Constitution our forefathers went to war over. 

The 9-man panel of Justices is tasked with determining whether or not every law passed by Congress is constitutional, as well as deciding their own cases through legal precedence. 

The Supreme Court holds rank on the Judicial branch of government, as all federal courts are subservient to their rulings and practices. 

Justices on the Supreme Court are nominated by sitting Presidents to serve lifetime terms. In the 230 years of the Supreme Court's existence, only 114 men and women have had the honor of sitting on the premier legal bench. While Presidents do in fact nominate Justices, each candidate has to be confirmed by the Congress, so both the Executive and Legislative branches hold some power over the Court. 

Even though the Supreme Court was established in 1789, the true role of the high court was only determined in the case Marbury v. Madison in 1803. That case set the legal precedent for Judicial Review, or the Court's ability to determine the justness of laws while following the Constitution. Since then, each case the Supreme Court has heard has been carefully examined through the lenses of the founding fathers and their ultimate document. 

While the 9 justices are the nation's highest legal authority, even the Supreme Court is far from perfect. In the 1857 case Dred Scott v. Sandford, the Court ruled that African-Americans were not citizens, and as a result did not deserve civil rights. After the Civil War and the Reconstruction Amendments were ratified, the Court overturned their prior misjudgment from Dred Scott.

In more recent years, the Supreme Court has been responsible for granting civil rights to blacks, upholding gay rights, and legalizing abortion. Without the ever-watchful eye of the Supreme Court, the Federal government would have free reign to violate citizen's rights and pass laws that would make the founding fathers turn in their graves. In short, the US Supreme Court has always and continues to serve as an all-important check on government power. 

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Photo Credit to the Washington Post

Tech Giants at Center of Antitrust, Privacy Concerns

Facebook, Google in Deep Waters Concerning User Privacy, Antitrust Concerns

Photo Credit to The Daily Caller

Two of Silicon Valley's largest corporations are at the center of some appalling legal charges. Social media giant Facebook is being accused of malpractice with user privacy; while search engine conglomerate Google is being blamed for monopolistic activities. With these 2 companies owning several popular properties across the internet, these charges levied against them have potentially widespread impact. 

Under the leadership of CEO Mark Zuckerburg, Facebook has come under antitrust fire from 8 states and the District of Columbia. The multi-state coalition behind this charge is led by New York Attorney General Letitia James. 

"I am proud to be leading a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in investigating whether Facebook has stifled competition and put users at risk," James said in a statement. "We will use every investigative tool at our disposal to determine whether Facebook's actions may have endangered consumer data, reduced the quality of consumers' choices, or increased the price of advertising."

Google is under the same accusations from several states as well, as many accuse the search engine of monopolizing a wide section of the internet. 

Facebook is also charged with knowingly putting its user's information and metadata at risk, as their lack of privacy has become apparent. An unsecured database server filled with user's personal phone numbers and other data recently had to be taken down by Facebook, giving many concern over the social media behemoth's privacy. "I honestly wasn't aware this number was listed in a database until now and it must be listed elsewhere because you aren't the first reporter to contact me," said one Facebook user who was contacted through a number in this database.

In summation, neither Facebook or Google have been entirely transparent when it comes to their privacy or how they manipulate user's data. Are they engaging in monopolistic activities? In some instances yes, as they have either bought out or neutralized competing sites/services to gain higher ground in the internet. Are respective state governments in the right to question these Silicon Valley tech giants? Also yes, as someone needs to be held accountable for this lack of internet security. 

Photo credit to The Daily Caller
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