By Nathan Barton
An acquaintance, “JA” responded recently to a commentary appearing at TheFreeThoughtProject posted by “Matt Agorist,” (clearly a nom de plume), headlined “State Congress Passes Bill to Confiscate Legal Guns from All 18-20-year olds.”
JA wrote:
Matt, while I agree with the content of your recent article on “TheFreeThoughtProject” regarding the Illinois legislature, you destroy about 95% of your credibility by using (or allowing to be used) the headline “State Congress Passes Bill…”
The Constitution of Illinois refers to the legislative branch of their government as “The Legislature” (Article 4) and specifically as the “General Assembly” referring to both their Senate and House of Representatives. To my knowledge, the Illinois General Assembly is NEVER referred to as a “Congress” in any legal document nor in general conversation or writing.
To do so, even just in a headline, makes you seem to be several things which you ARE NOT: you are not ignorant, you are not careless with words, and you are not careless about researching what you write about.
I cannot share your otherwise good commentary with anyone who is politically astute, as it would present you in a bad light and negate, even if subconsciously, your reporting and logic. Please change it. Continue reading


Redefining the media
By Nathan Barton
Whether we call it the “press” or the “media” or lump it together in the general category of “free speech,” most people (both in the Fifty States and much of the rest of the world) consider their freedom to be important.
Important, as far as being an essential part of human freedom. “Although I disagree with what you are saying, I will defend your right to say it.” Free speech was both a recognized right (first of Englishmen and then of Americans) AND nearly the first freedom which dictators and tyrants attempt to snatch.
There has long been a odd set of relationships between government and, first newspapers, later radio and television. Newspapers are, by their very nature, political. Radio and television became even more political. Media, like any other invention of mankind, can be used for good or for bad; it can be used to promote liberty or to control others.
There are, in my opinion, three types of “media” or “press” or even “free speech.” Continue reading →