FEC May Regulate Web Political Activity
by JoePulcinella
Funny, I don't recall putting these guys in charge of anything (see AP article). As a matter of fact, I don't hear anyone (outside of Washington) complaining about free speech on the Internet. But I guess it just really bothers unelected, unaccountable government functionaries such as Ellen Weintraub.
"I don't think anybody here wants to impede the free flow of information over the Internet," Weintraub said. "The question then is, where do you draw the line?"
Excuse me? Why does a line need to be drawn? And who put her in charge of drawing it? I take this a proof-positive that grassroots political activity works. If it wasn't such a threat, why is it on their radar screen?
Comments
Okay, here's the ENTIRE original quote (hate to say it, but I probably have the Journal it first appeared in at home; Born to Regulate Marthe Kent is director of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] safety standards program and heads OSHA's controversial ergonomics program. In an interview in May in the trade journal of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, Kent gushed ecstatically about her destiny to control others, and the sheer intoxicating thrill of exercising that power: "I absolutely love it. I was born to regulate. I don't know why, but that's very true. So as long as I'm regulating, I'm happy. If you put out a reg, it matters. I think that's really where the thrill comes from. And it is a thrill; it's a high."
I clipped that one from Cato.org a long time ago and saved it. It's a look inside the head of a government hack if there ever was one.
WOW. I Googled all afternoon yesterday and I couldn't find it. And it's in my field of professional expertise! I bow to the master.....
Could this be it?
Marthe Kent, OSHA director of safety standards and the top regulator on the ergonomics rule, was quoted in a trade publication as saying, "I was born to regulate. I dont know why, but thats very true. So long as Im regulating, Im happy."
--Washington Post, August 8, 2000
I wanted to reply quoting the "I love regulating" quote from an OSHA official I read a while back. I couldn't find it, but it's illuminative, These people love doing what they do, which amounts to being paid to shovel sand into the gears of whatever institution they are in charge of regulating. It won't do to have anyone with sand-free gears, it just won't.
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