So much for Free Speech

[draconis]

In yet another blow against free speech rights, the Supreme court decided that government employees who report wrongdoing do not enjoy 1st Amendment rights while on the job. From the article 'The Supreme Court scaled back protections for government workers who blow the whistle on official misconduct Tuesday, a 5-4 decision in which new Justice Samuel Alito cast the deciding vote [...] The ruling was perhaps the clearest sign yet of the Supreme Court's shift with the departure of moderate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and the arrival of Alito. [...] Stephen Kohn, chairman of the National Whistleblower Center, said: "The ruling is a victory for every crooked politician in the United States."

Comments

[devohoneybee.livejournal.com]

This makes me sick. Is there anything we can do about it???

[shrewreader.livejournal.com]

Well, I for one? am getting my PhD as quickly as possible (or maybe just making do with the MA) and going as quickly as possible to points north of the 49th parallel --

but that's me.

[alysswolf.livejournal.com]

As I understand the ruling, this curtailing of rights applies to government employees who try to complain through official channels, but not if they leak their concerns to the press. What drugs are these judges on?