P&C drink and review an Octoberfest beer, then talk about restrictions on free speech.
The First Amendment limits the government’s ability to regulate speech. But can other people limit speech? And what speech is in view — only political speech, or all speech?
In the past, the government was a legit threat to free speech. Today, the woke mob, the spineless companies that bow to the woke mob, and the tech titans are the big dangers to free speech.
Is free speech a general value that we want reflected in all of society, or are we only worried about the government?
“You have the freedom to say anything you like, but there can still be consequences.” Is that what we want?
The woke mob may like the power they wield now, but what if the tide shifts and some other ideology has the power to destroy people because they don’t comply?
As I approached the booth today, the toll-taker greeted me with a genial “good morning” and quickly followed by a convivial “have a nice day”. It’s been so long since I’ve experienced that type customer service engagement, it was pleasantly surprising. That’s one type of “free speech” we should have more of these days!
That said, free speech is a wonderful right and it should vigorously protected. Still, it’s highly fortunate that we have legal limits to it…especially in cases when some use speech to pose a threat to the well-being of others (under the guise of free speech).
Gives new meaning to…”big brother is watching”. https://www.businessinsider.com/us-doj-barr-five-eyes-weaker-encryption-backdoors-2020-10
Yes, that is an important part of the free speech debate — to what extent can the government snoop on you.
Interesting commentary relative to free speech and government vis-a-vis recent comments from Ted Cruz. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR_mJZKPgaw
The guy misses the point in the first minute by calling Twitter a “platform.” A platform is not allowed to censor speech. Twitter and Facebook are trying to have it both ways, getting the benefits of calling themselves platforms while at the same time censoring speech, making themselves publishers.
I think I must have accidentally hit a forward skip at the wrong time so I somehow missed you introducing the third person on this podcast. In appropriately vague P&C terms, how was he identified?
Longinus. He also helped us with the review of The Stranger.