In a thought-provoking blog posting, Mitch Ratcliffe discusses the ever-relevant topic of journalists and their conflicts of interest. But he goes off the rails briefly when he says: "Bloggers simply haven't had enough time to fuck up as royally as those who have been granted First Amendment protection for a couple centuries."
I understand what Mitch means, but I want to remind everyone that it isn't just journalists who've enjoyed free speech through American history. We all have, here in America.
The First Amendment does mention the press -- and thank goodness that it does. But in a time when the lines are blurring between journalists and the rest of us, remember that freedom of speech (and religion and the right to peaceful assembly, etc.) belongs to everyone. It is the foundation of liberty.