Comments on: Newly released video of Sam Dodson’s arrest reveal painful screams

By: Humus B. Chittenbee

Humus B. Chittenbee — Thu, 14 May 2009 04:11:30 +0000

Your headline “Newly released video of Sam Dodson’s arrest reveal painful screams” is disingenuous at best and at least florid journalism.
All the arrested guy had to do was walk. Yes, I understand he did not think he should be arrested, but he could of walked and gotten into the car (i.e. cooperated with that portion of the incident) and still have made his point. IF he was in any significant pain (and I seriously question that) he had the wherewithal to modify that. The fact that he did not says to me he was doing all he could to make his situation look as bad as possible.

By: Ariel

Ariel — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:11:38 +0000

“This is an old-fashioned rights stand-off: Dodson is asserting his rights, and the authorities are trying to put him in his place.”

That pretty much sums it up. They have to assert their authority, no matter how foolish they look now.

By: xdamousex

xdamousex — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:35:09 +0000

Are his efforts helping the greater cause of liberty? What do ordinary people who learn about the case think of him? Many who aren’t already libertarians will dismiss him as a self-promoting crank or wing-nut who harps on trivialities and irrelevant legal minutiae. Libertarians can see the bigger picture, but we are used to examining the the implications of these kinds of issues.

Here’s the problem with that line of reasoning: If it’s not big deal to give up your name, then why are the police holding him until he gives up his name? They already know his name, so obviously they are not holding him to get his name out of him. This is an old-fashioned rights stand-off: Dodson is asserting his rights, and the authorities are trying to put him in his place. I personally admire him for doing this, as trivial as it may look to everyone else out there who believe the best response to bullying is to capitulate to it.

By: George Donnelly

George Donnelly — Wed, 06 May 2009 12:52:46 +0000

Why is this “the wrong way”?

If you want to understand where this kind of civil disobedience lies on the continuum between small stuff and big stuff read:

http://anarchyinyourhead.com/2009/05/04/freedom-in-your-goldfishs-lifetime/

I see lots of naysayers but I’m missing out on the folks doing civil disobedience better than the Keeniacs….

By: Duane Kerzic

Duane Kerzic — Wed, 06 May 2009 12:19:12 +0000

This is going to end up being an interesting case no matter what happens. I’ll predict that Judge Burke is no longer a judge when this is over.