Travis Curtis                       1970-2014    Economy stats.

 

     1970: GDP  $4.7 trillion         US Population: 203,392,031            

     1980: GDP   $6.49 trillion        US Population: 226,545,805

     1990: GDP  $8.9 trillion          US  Population: 248,709,873

     2000: GDP  $12.68 trillion         US Population: 281,421,906

     2010: GDP  $14.94 trillion        US  Population: 308,745,538

     2013: GDP $15.93 trillion        US  Population: 317,297,938

The supreme court case I'm reviewing is Texas vs. Johnson.
                                                                 
                                                                    Summary:
     
     Johnson extended the First Amendment rights to protect symbolic speech. During a political demonstration for the Republican National Convention in Texas, Gregory Lee Johnson set the American flag on fire. No one was injured or in immediate danger by his demonstration, but many witnesses were offended and Johnson was charged and convicted for desecration of a venerated object. The Supreme Court overruled the Texas Penal Code violation, and decided Johnson’s demonstration was a form of symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment.

                                                                       Verdict:

     Johnson was not held guilty for burning the flag because he was using his freedom of speech.

                                                                    My Opinion:

     I think it was honestly wrong for this case to have left a petty civil suit. The man wasn't convicted of anything. He only hurt a few patriot Texans' feelings. If anything burning the flag wasn't exactly the best way to get his point across but taking it to court proved his point.