Moving U.S. closer to a police state

The Senate is reportedly close to taking another vote on a proposed constitutional amendment banning the burning or other desecration of the flag. In the past this measure has passed easily in the House but been unable to clear the Senate. This time supporters believe it could pass.

I'm not a supporter.

I've never desecrated the flag, and I can't imagine a circumstance when I would choose to do so rather than express my opinion through a letter of this sort or one to my elected representatives or just by speaking out.

I oppose this amendment because I love this country and the liberties bequeathed to us by the framers of the Constitution. Making it a crime to treat a government symbol with disrespect moves us away from our cherished, self-confident heritage of free expression and closer to the realm of a police state. I don't want to live in anything remotely resembling a police state. It appears that most people take the same sensible view. Recent poll results show that 63 percent of the public opposes the flag amendment. Sen. Evan Bayh, Sen. Richard Lugar, are you listening?

Instead of posturing patriotically by trying to sanctify the flag, Congress should craft an amendment to allow real limits to be placed on the corrupting influence of campaign contributions. That would have a genuinely positive impact on our democracy.

Ed Cohen