Desktop Dynamo

I try not to get too political on this site, and try to keep it tongue-in-cheek when I do. I am plenty active politically, and I have other forums to express my personal political views.

In this case, I am making an exception because of yet another attack on our rights here in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Within the past year, residents of my county learned that there are two types of citizens here: Property owners and unwashed peasants. You just may have a voice against county government if you own property in my county. If you don't...well, in these parts, yer outta luck pal.

Today, I've learned of another attack on our rights. It is an assault underway in many cities and towns across our nation...possibly even yours: Using fees and other economic weapons to muzzle free speech.

Here's what has my shorts in a bunch:

In Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, you cannot rally for free speech in Public Square...again...PUBLIC SQUARE...unless you fatten the city's coffers first. You will need to fork out at least two hundred smackers. And you better have liability insurance. If the city determines you need police...$105 bucks for 3 hours duty by each officer assigned, plus $35 an hour per officer for each additional hour.

Certain fees and expenses I can understand. Fees for electricity...the use of bandshells, etc., seem reasonable enough.

But at a bare minimum, a simple rally for free speech in "Public" Square will cost you a couple hundred bucks. This is forcing one group, Voice of the People, USA, to hold a free speech rally on Sunday, May 4, elsewhere in the city. They will have their rally at 501 South Main Street in the parking lot of Cee Kay Auto, starting at noon.

They won't have their rally on PayUs Square, my friends. (I'm sorry, but "Public" is a misnomer now for the square. Let's call it like it is!)

Folks once brewed tea in Boston Harbor for stuff like this.

So here's the short and sweet on this:

The definition of Free Speech in Wllkes-Barre: $200 bucks.

Free speech as defined by the US Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

I see no mention of fees, but the price paid over the centuries for our right to free speech has been dear indeed.

In Wilkes-Barre, the price for freedom starts at two hundred bucks.