Erosion of Civil Liberties

Here is the synopsis of a news story that ran in the Boston Globe. 

A owner of a building that has a billboard on top of it, placed an advertisement that said “Little Brother Is Watching You”.  It showed nothing but President Bush’s eyes.

It advertised the website littlebrotheriswatching.com which questions the legality of President Bush’s domestic wiretapping program.  After pressure from the state government (controlled by republicans) the Massachusetts Outdoor Advertising Board ruled that this billboard was in zoning violation and had to be removed. 

What an outright restriction of freedom of speech.  I understand that supporters will claim that this is a zoning violation issue but The facts are that:

• It is clearly acknowledged in the Boston Globe that this billboard was removed only after pressure from the state government.
• According to my research this “Massachusetts Outdoor Advertising Board” consists of three members (1 Director, 2 members).  Two of these three members including the director are governor appointees.  This effectively allows a partisan body to control what public messages are allowed.

If you read maestrojed.com (formally High Five Friday) you have an idea that I have opposed many of the decisions and directions that the US government has taken in the last 5 years.  Even though I am amazed that the government would make the choices it has, I am way more shocked that Americans are allowing/encouraging so many of our civil liberties to be eroded away.  I am personally outraged and deaply troubled.   Since I doubt the Massachusetts Outdoor Advertising Agency reads maestrojed.com (formally High Five Friday), I decided to write a letter to the Director.  I encourage you to do the same. 

This is his contact information:

William J. Bickley, Jr.
Executive Director
Massachusetts Highway Department
c/o Outdoor Advertising Division
Ten Park Plaza, Room 7362
Boston, MA 02116-3973
Tel: (617)973-7867
Fax: (617)973-8404
william.bickley@mhd.state.ma.us

This is the letter I send on Friday March 31st via email.  I have not received a response yet.

Dear Mr. William Bickley,

I was deeply disturbed that your board has ordered the removal of a billboard that promotes a web site questioning the legality of President Bush’s wiretapping policies. Regardless of political affiliation or one’s position on the wiretap’s legality, it is clear that this is solely a freedom of speech issue. You have allowed the authority of the Massachusetts Outdoor Advertising Agency to hinder free speech because of pressure for a partisan political administration (as reported by the Boston Globe “the state government — the Republican state government, it»s worth noting — wants the billboard down.”) This is not freedom, freedom of speech or the “American way”. In fact, one can easily draw parallels between this action and other similar historical acts or current policies in less democratic countries. If the US government is allowed to remove and restrict public messages because they differ from it’s agenda then the United State’s state of affairs is quite disturbing. I urge you to recognize your power and resist those who attempt to sway your influence only to further their cause at the sacrifice of America’s freedom.

According to your agencies website, the Massachusetts Outdoor Advertising Board is comprised of three members. Is it these three members that make decisions such as the removal of this billboard?

Concerned,

Jed Herzog