<<"We really need a law like that in the US, as it is morally and ethically wrong to assert an accusation as fact without being willing to back it up with something to substantiate that accusation. I think I will write my congressman and ask him to propose a law to that effect. "

In this case, I hate to disagree, but I must. The reason? If you give the Congress any rights to restrict free speech, you weaken First Amendment protection. That is a very bad thing.>>

If you scream "fire" in a crowded theater and 7 people are killed during the rush to escape, is that "free speech"?

If you scream "Linux is an illegal unix derivative and everybody that uses it will face legal action from us" and corporations lose billions as they spend money to swtich to alternatives and it turns that it's NOT TRUE, is that free speech?


Let me tell you what IS free speech. If my government starts bombing Cambodians in MY NAME and some guy takes and American flag and burns it as a protest - THAT'S FREE speech.

Free speech is designed to protect POLITICAL speech. It's not there to protect @#$%ography, or television shows, or movies, or public "dirty language" or corporations. It's there to keep your government from turning evil and then killing you.

Corporations are NOT the same as people. They do not have the same rights that I do. *I* have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, no corporation does. I have the right of free speech, not a corporation. I have the right bear weapons, no corporation does.