Aaron Swartz to receive the James Madison Freedom of Information Award
thenextweb.com
thenextweb.com
Where was the government's honor for and protection of his efforts while he was living? Imagine how encouraging it might have been to him to have his efforts supported and meaningful change take place as a result. It's great that some legislation is being introduced to address some of this, but why so late and why the rogue DOJ in the first place? All of this happened because of the IDEAS expressed by this man. This should be scary to all Americans.
And, speaking of that, these are relatively minor intrusions into our freedoms compared to the wholly un-American Patriot Act. When will that be addressed? Kind of makes these legislative changes look like lipstick on a pig.
It is more than a little hypocritical that the same congress that abides the abhorrent assault on liberties that is the Patriot Act, is handing out "Freedom of Information" awards to anyone, let alone posthumously to a man who was unjustly prosecuted by the DOJ. The latter being arguably the primary beneficiary of the abuses enabled by that act.
Once you're dead, you're no longer competition.
examples in support: "In public discussion, Madison spoke of the rights of minorities in general, but it is quite clear that he had a particular minority in mind "the minority of the opulent.""
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Chomsky/ConsentPOP_Chom.ht...
"Chomsky: James Madison’s position at the Constitutional Convention was that state power should be used "to protect the minority of the opulent against the majority."" http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-with-noa...
1. Indira Gandhi - The only PM of India. She got elected by malpractice and when the Court ruled against her she declared emergency in the country suspending democracy and putting all her opponents in jail.
Now that is just one name I am familiar with because I am from India but you can research on other recipients and draw the conclusion.
I doubt any conclusion can be drawn just because the name of the prize is associated with an autocratic leader.