I agree, but they are still less free than the US, and even if they are freer in some sense, it’s not because they enjoy constitutional protections. It’s simply because their government has generously decided not to infringe on their rights at this time. IT’s just a basic difference in philosophy between the US and everyone else.
As for Meese, don’t liberals support preventing foreigners from influencing US politics? I recall the President intimating that the Chamber of Commerce shouldn’t be allowed to influence politics because they might be receiving foreign donations.
I don’t have an issue with the decision in that case becuase all it did was strip foreigners of the right to be anonymous. WHich is a right liberals don’t believe Americans should have anyway when attempting to influence politics.
Ultimately, the Constitution is just a piece of paper unless a majority of those in power – and that means far more than just the government – support it rigorously. The British or Israeli Constitutions – despite not being written down – are still pretty strong protections of individual liberties.
Liberals are mixed on this. Some believe that all speech should be free; others suggest that outsiders should not be allowed to buy political advertising. (e.g., no one from Utah should be allowed to buy ads regarding a California ballot measure.) Most liberals favor free speech, and don’t object, too very strongly, to outsiders – even foreigners – buying ads here.
Making them sign their names is one thing. Forcing them to put up a warning sign – “This documentary is propaganda” – is quite another. We reserve that for things that are physically harmful, like packages of caustic soda, but not for our movies. Meese fucked up.
(Also…oops…this is all an irrelevant highjack. Sorry)