General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFree Speech
Most liberals used to hold the philosophy that even if they disapprove of certain speech they protect the right of the person to speak it.
I expect most of us believed that hate, tin foil hat speech and self serving lies would not be accepted by many as truth. Crazy speech would be seen for what it is by the vast majority so free speech was not a threat.
Then comes Trump who pushes all these things and a major segment of the population takes them to heart as truths to live by.
When a president spouts total lies and insanity many will believe and reject any evidence to the contrary.
So now we have the bizarre situation that Republicans want total free speech because they see how lies and deceit can fool the rubes and increase their power while Democrats want controls on speech to prevent deceptive manipulation of voters.
It's just strange how Trump has twisted up everyone's morals and values for everyone on both sides of the aisle.
Democracy can be a danger to itself when a totally inappropriate and unqualified person is elected to the presidency.
canetoad
(17,231 posts)Must have been a bit (or a lot) twisted before tfg - you don't lose your whole set of principles and values just like that. Having the president of the US as the embodiment of selfish, fascist values was just the icing on the cake.
unblock
(52,607 posts)of foxnews and hate radio.
Politically, he was nothing more of less than the perfect foxnews viewer. Virtually everything he said was an echo of foxnews.
OAITW r.2.0
(24,911 posts)Need to see architects indicted.
In It to Win It
(8,342 posts)One would think people are rational and intelligent enough to tell what's bullshit and what isn't
One would think people would be willing to have their beliefs challenged when presented with new and credible information
One would think people would not be so spiteful to make it their sole mission to "own" people that simply disagree with them
Apparently, I overestimate many people.
Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)other countries have various curbs on speech and free expression (for instance laws against Holocaust denial, or inciting racial hatred, etc). Over a decade of living outside the US made me realise that American conceptions of "free speech" are actively harmful to promoting a civil society.
Jim__
(14,104 posts)Republicans believe that Republicans should be free to say whatever they want. However, people in favor of free speech don't ban books. People in favor of free speech don't prohibit teachers from speaking on a list of "forbidden" topics. People in favor of free speech don't forbid legislators from using certain words.
Republicans are not advocates of free speech.
Skittles
(153,460 posts)repukes are such fucking hypocrites
Bev54
(10,121 posts)J_William_Ryan
(1,768 posts)And that hasnt changed.
The doctrine of free speech concerns solely the relationship between government and those governed, not between or among private persons or private entities.
To denounce, oppose, and condemn rightwing hate speech, conspiracy theories, misinformation, and lies is not to violate the doctrine of free speech.
Republicans/conservatives are enemies of free speech Florida Republicans are among the more reprehensible examples of that, with measures seeking to violate the First Amendment rights of social media, silence educators concerning gay and transgender Americans, and intimidate private corporations who reject the rights anti-gay agenda.
Trump actually hasnt twisted anything up Republicans/conservatives are just as dishonest now as before Trump, with just as much contempt for facts and the truth; and liberals remain champions of the doctrine of free speech, opposing the rights authoritarian efforts compel conformity and silence dissent.
ymetca
(1,182 posts)And the overlap between other Constitutionally guaranteed rights makes it much more complex.
Eventually it all gets "worked out" with the 2nd Amendment -- the "final arbiter" in any "free speech" argument, eh?
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