RICHARD RIDER COMMENT: The ACLU CLAIMS to defend the Bill of Rights. But it demonstrates an uneven support for the Bill of Rights it purportedly defends. It seems to favor every OTHER amendment.

Credit where credit is due -- the ACLU is perhaps the foremost defender of the 1st Amendment. They've done some fine work there. Yet I suspect they didn't defend the right of free speech in the recent Supreme Court ruling that prohibits groups speaking badly of incumbents within 60 days of an election. Free speech doesn't get more fundamental than that!

The ACLU simply will not defend the 2nd Amendment -- it tacitly takes positions on the OTHER side, such as support for suing gun manufacturers for (gasp!) manufacturing guns!

While they claim to defend the 4th and 5th Amendments, ask the ACLU if they have EVER defended someone against the government for IRS abuses of the Bill of Rights. Just ONE! It NEVER happens. They CLAIM no one has ever asked, but that is simply not accurate -- they have, and have been ignored.

Of course, with the 5th Amendment, the ACLU does NOT defend against government's blatant abuse of the eminent domain clause which steals property for private use without due compensation.

And when it comes time to defend the 9th and 10th Amendments limiting federal government power, the ACLU is nowhere to be seen.

In short, given the legion of choices we have of groups to support, I have found more libertarian charities, foundations and think tanks better deserving of my contributions. If you wish to support legal activist organizations fighting oppressive big government, may I suggest the Institute for Justice in Washington DC, or the Pacific Legal Foundation here in California.

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Richard Rider, President, Economy Telcom

Phone: 858-530-2634 FAX: 858-530-3030
E-mail: RRider@san.rr.com