Briefly Noted: A Green Shade of Fear
In Green Is the New Red (City Lights), former American Civil Liberties Union staffer Will Potter argues that a Green Scare has infected America. Without denying that many environmentalists have crossed the line separating peaceful dissent from sabotage and violence, Potter makes a strong case that the authorities have exaggerated the threat such activists pose. The word terrorism is now applied to everything from minor vandalism (one firm described rude stickers left on SUVs as "a new form of eco-terrorism") to more serious but still nonlethal forms of aggression. In the process, industry lobbies have attempted, sometimes successfully, to ram through bills that federalize local crimes and chill free speech.
Unfortunately, Potter is less skeptical when the topic turns to right-wing terror, an exaggerated threat that he takes at face value. But the encroachments he laments are part of a larger expansion of federal police power, one that affects the right as well as the left. —Jesse Walker
Hide Comments (0)
Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.
Please
to post commentsMute this user?
Ban this user?
Un-ban this user?
Nuke this user?
Un-nuke this user?
Flag this comment?
Un-flag this comment?