(iverson's) currentbuzz: My July 4th Statement

I am not going to be connected to my computer all day on July 4th. This letter to the editor by Bruce Berry, who addresses two major limitations of the law and free speech in places of employment, for those who are not in academe. This is an important issue in times of globalization, corporate conglomeration, and weakening of the rule of law by corrupt public officials. Happy 4th of July.

Let me emphasize that I don't advocate a right to say anything one pleases whenever one pleases; obviously, we trade liberties for a paycheck when entering the workplace. Employers should be free to regulate speech that is harassing, abusive or legitimately threatening to the success of the enterprise.

But workers shouldn't have to choose between job security and civic engagement. The exchange of work for wages should leave citizenship out of the bargain. When people "yield up the privilege of thinking," wrote Thomas Paine," the last s

Source: chicagotribune.com