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Michelle's avatar

Very good article, Steve. I have struggled with articulating arguments about censorship vs free speech. How and draw the line between allowing Free Speech and suppressing dangerous propaganda and disinformation. What clear guidelines/tests can be used, and more importantly, how to enforce.

The violence and disruption caused by the very deliberate lies from Trump and Vance about the Haitian immigrants in Springfield is just one example.

Another example of dangerous lies coming from the MAGA polticians is about FEMA response to Helene. In this case, at least there are several media outlets pushing back, but I doubt these voices be heard (or believed) by Trump acolytes. ref: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/10/05/interested-parties-memo-fighting-hurricane-helene-falsehoods-with-facts/

I don't understand how they are allowed to spread disinformation that is causing very real harm, and face no repercussions.

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Chris Fox's avatar

I believe that the promotion of truth is a responsibility far outweighing any fanciful right to promote falsehood.

In my youth, I was much more passionate about free speech (FS) though never an absolutist. I was more tolerant of the "accidental falsehood" than I am now, but that is entirely over. I now believe that deliberate falsehood such as Trump commits every day deserves prison time and in cases where it inevitably leads to murder, to execution. I think the infanticide-as-abortion falsehood merits Nevada Gas. It doesn't happen and to say it does is so certain to incite murderous passion that the lie deserves extreme punishment.

The FS phrase has been separated from its origin, which was to allow criticism of powerful people and of government without arrest and a charge of sedition. That's all it meant. It was not protection for incitement nor deliberate commercial or political falsehood.

The idea that it protected murderous irresponsibility like inciting people to trample each other to death is unworthy of discussion.

I want the right to criticize political positions without awakening to cops around my bed. But I also want people who say that immigrants are stealing pets to stand trial and spend years in jail.

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