Presented In A Manner Even Leftists Can Understand...

George Jonas: The Charter should defend individuals, not restrict universities


Here’s a tale of free speech. Sometimes it’s possible for a sign on the front lawn saying “I love life” to coexist peacefully with a neighbour’s sign saying “I love choice.” The neighbours may even nod to each other at the bus stop.

Things can get rocky when the choice-loving neighbour has more disposable income than the one who prefers life, and decides to erect a sign that blinks after sunset. Still, conflict isn’t inevitable. Unblinking neighbour can get a bank loan and make his own sign blink, or decide there’s more to life than blinking.

Things get more complicated when a municipality sets up a Blinking Sign Standards Enforcement Agency that makes unblinking neighbour fancy that blinking neighbour’s sign exceeds regulation height. Snitching requires no bank loan, but being forced to retain a local obfuscator who specializes in Blinking Lights Law does. Five thousand dollars later, when Commissioners Blinking, Winking and Nod decide that the impugned sign satisfies Section 2/-235 of the Signage and Sundry Act, there’s plenty of bad blood between neighbours. Read More »