[Overpaid Slacker]

Oh, I can agree with you, having read only 2nd hand commentary, that this particular iteration of a bill to cover this particular topic is sub-optimal. No doubt.

This is one of those areas in which I believe the "average" American claims to "want" something they really don't want, or fully understand. My view is, rather than legalize everything (as a Lib might) is to leave it alone (as a Conservative in the true, ideological sense should).

An academic point, but one worth 2 lines -- you can limit "free speech" "a little bit" and in fact, you and I live with such restrictions every day.. but we accept them. The illegality of, and penalties for, slander, libel and other defamatory "speech" is just one way in which "free speech" is limited.

JP