Decius wrote:

Civil liberties aren't about stuff that you like. Stuff that you like doesn't need to be protected. Freedom of speech is about speech you don't like.

Decius makes some good points, and I think this is pretty absurd all in all. I believe pretty strongly that thinking about committing a crime isn't a crime. This kind of case drags the arrest / legal action line further in that direction.

But I have another argument against it, which is that it's a waste of the FBI's time. It's possible I'm underestimating the severity of the child exploitation situation in this country, but I don't think I am. What I think is that the administration is throwing the religious right a bone via the FBI. They're pretty pissed at the moment, so they need a little bit of placating. Or am I just being a cynical partisan?

Regardless, I'm not so stupid as to believe we don't face actual threats from terrorism in this country (even if I do disagree with curtailing liberties to fight them). I'd rather have the FBI working to secure the nation from actual threats, because I really don't think pornography, even tasteless and offensive stories, is the most serious threat to our nation. -k]

RE: The Bush Administration's porn war has begun