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From: orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER)
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory
Subject: Re:Freedom of Speech and Assembly in Public vs Private Property
Message-ID: <673@whuxl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 2-Jul-85 09:10:31 EDT
Article-I.D.: whuxl.673
Posted: Tue Jul  2 09:10:31 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 3-Jul-85 07:48:38 EDT
References: <656@whuxl.UUCP> <2380054@acf4.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Whippany
Lines: 34

> >From me:  
> >Would you think it fortunate if all property now publicly held were
> >placed in private hands and the Courts ruled that there was no freedom
> >of speech or assembly in *any* private property?
> 
> I don't think the property should be "placed" in anyone's hands.  Instead,
> the government should either just give it up, or sell it.
>  
> 						Mike Sykora

You didn't answer the question Mr. Sykora. The question is a *very important
one* which emerges from considering the implications of your philosophy
and past statements.  That question is what kind of freedom of speech
and assembly remains for the general public if:
 
  1)there is no longer *any* public property, parks or even streets
 
  2)even in public places such as streets, malls or markets there is
    no guarantee of freedom of speech for speech not liked by the
    private owner or manager
 
from these two statements I conclude that there would be no freedom of
speech left.  If private owners have no obligation to respect free
speech, and all property is privately owned then it follows that no
guarantee of free speech remains. 
Demonstrations typically take place on public streets and public parks.
Where will they occur if all such property is privately owned and
the owners don't like such dissent?
Dissemination of leaflets typically occurs on public sidewalks.
Where will it occur if the private owners of all sidewalks decide
they don't like it?
Is this really promoting either freedom or liberty?
  
              tim sevener whuxl!orb