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• Wednesday, January 14, 2009 02:25 AM

  Clearwater Thugs

  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28642352

  Clearwater, Florida businessman Herb Quintero spent $500,000 renovating his bait and tackle shop and the property it’s on, including commissioning a fish mural on the side of the building. Though the mural contains no text, the city of Clearwater determined he needed a billboard permit, because the subject matter is related to his business. They began fining him $130 for each day he left the mural uncovered.

  So Quintero responded (rather awesomely) by covering the mural with a banner depicting the First Amendment. All of which sets up this beautiful line from a local news report of the dustup:

  Meanwhile, the city’s legal department is looking to see what, if anything, it can do about the First Amendment banner.

  Thanks to Clearwater for the object lesson in the banality of government thugs. Sometimes we argue and rail about the horrible things going on in distant lands, while our fellow citizens are being attacked here at home. Sure, a painting is not much (I have seen it and it is a nice piece of art as these things go), but local governments in the US will "Gitmo Your Ass" in their own way.

  Does anyone doubt that many innocent men waste away in prisons in this country because all the prosecutors give a damn about is their conviction rate?

  —heru-ur Read heru-ur's other letters
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