Free Speech Under Attack: The Marxist’s March To Control Through Censorship

Unless you have lived under a rock for the last sixteen years, you understand that free speech – a guaranteed natural-law right codified in the First Amendment to the US Constitution in The Bill of Rights – is under attack. And the most potent threat to this fundamental right comes not from the communist Chinese or the Bolshevistic Russian oligarchs, the Marxist dictators of South America, or the Islamofascists of the Middle East. It is emanating from the far-Left of the Democrat Party and their elitist benefactors in the Mainstream and social media complex.

One would think that something so subversive to freedom – so antithetical to what Americanism stands for – would be held tightly to the chest and only uttered in whispers in the darkest of shadows in the seediest of locales. But the falsely empowered Marxist Left here in the United States is blatantly pushing the issue onto center stage and doing so with an arrogance that makes many reluctant to talk about it in opposition.

That isn’t the case with me.

Recently, Democrat presidential candidate Kamala Harris, talking to Jake Tapper of CNN, said this about free speech in relation to social media:

This is a dangerous statement coming from someone running for the highest office in the land. Controlling and regulating speech is an insult to the foundation of a free society, and it is the first step in controlling a free people, leading a free people down the road to totalitarianism in all its forms.

Why Free Speech Needs To Be Sacrosanct

Free speech is the foundation of a free society because it allows for and protects the open exchange of ideas, opinions, and beliefs without fear of censorship or punishment. We witnessed the consequences of regulated speech during COVID and the aftermath of the January 6th protests. In both cases, the censorship was used to silence the emergence of fact and truth.

When people are able to express themselves freely, they can engage in meaningful discussions, debate contentious issues, and challenge the status quo. This leads to a more informed and engaged citizenry, which is essential for holding governments accountable and ensuring that power is not concentrated in the hands of a few. It also prevents the cultivation of an oligarchic elite, as was the case in post-Soviet Russia and communist China.

Moreover, free speech protects minority viewpoints and prevents the tyranny of the majority. Throughout history, many groundbreaking ideas and innovations were initially met with resistance and even persecution. If these individuals had not been allowed to express their views freely, we would have missed out on countless scientific, social, and technological advancements. In fact, we would have suffered the initial fate of Galileo in his contention that the Earth was not flat!

Furthermore, free speech is crucial for maintaining a diverse and pluralistic society. When people are exposed to a wide range of perspectives, they are more likely to develop empathy, understanding, tolerance for others, and the enlightenment that pushing thought boundaries provides. This fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose – shared experience, even in the face of disagreement.

In contrast, societies that restrict free speech often become stagnant, authoritarian, and prone to abuse. When governments or powerful institutions control the flow of information, they can manipulate public opinion, suppress dissent, and maintain their grip on power. This leads to a climate of fear, conformity, and intellectual stagnation, a society based on the lowest common denominator and mediocrity.

In short, free speech is essential for the health and vitality of any free society.

Some Specific Points Of Order

Free speech is fundamental to a free society and nation for several interconnected reasons, reasons that foster the purity of a Republican form of government and the prosperity of a capitalist free-market economic system:

• Democratic Representative Governance: Free speech is the cornerstone of democracy. It allows citizens to express their views, engage in political discourse, and hold their government accountable. Without the ability to speak freely, the democratic process of electing representatives, debating policies, and critiquing governance would be severely compromised. This principle is echoed in the US Constitution's First Amendment, which recognizes that an informed electorate is essential for self-governance.

• The Marketplace of Ideas: The concept of free speech as a marketplace of ideas posits that truth and beneficial ideas emerge through open competition, free thought, and debate. When individuals can express diverse opinions, society benefits from the clash of ideas, leading to better solutions and innovations. This marketplace thrives on the principle that the best way to counter bad speech is with more speech, not censorship.

• Individual Autonomy & Self-Realization: Freedom of speech is not just about collective benefits but also about individual rights. It allows individuals to express their personality, beliefs, and identity, fostering personal development and autonomy. This aspect of free speech is crucial for individual fulfillment, as articulated by thinkers like Justice Thurgood Marshall, who emphasized its role in serving the human spirit. Today’s Marxist Left is hypocritical in its insistence on tolerance towards all but its penchant for speech regulation.

• Social Progress & Change: Historical and societal progress often begins with the expression of new or controversial ideas. Movements for civil rights, gender equality, and other social reforms have historically relied on free speech to challenge the status quo and push for change. Free speech ensures that society can evolve by questioning existing norms and advocating for new ones. Again, today’s Marxist Left is duplicitous in its insistence on tolerance but its advocacy for speech regulation.

• Check on Government Power: Free speech safeguards against tyranny and corruption by allowing public scrutiny of government actions. It enables journalism (trustworthy, un-agendized, and non-opinionated journalism), whistleblowing, and public debate, which is vital for transparency and accountability in governance. This function of free speech helps prevent the concentration of power and maintains a balance of power in society. Today’s Marxist Left would be left impotent in their want to centralize power in a federal oligarchy if they didn’t install speech regulation.

• Economic Freedom: In economic terms, free speech underpins the free market of goods and services by allowing for advertising, consumer reviews, and the exchange of information necessary for market efficiency. It also supports innovation by protecting the rights of inventors and entrepreneurs to discuss, promote, and sell their ideas (in this vane, think about how Big Pharma coerced public opinion about alternative treatments during COVID).

• Cultural Diversity & Tolerance: A society that values free speech tends to be more tolerant of diverse viewpoints, cultures, and lifestyles. This diversity enriches society, fostering cultural enlightenment where different ideas can coexist, leading to a more vibrant and resilient community.

• Legal & Philosophical Justifications: Free speech is often justified philosophically by the harm principle, which states that speech should only be limited if it causes direct harm to others. Legally, this principle has been tested and refined through court cases, establishing precedents like the "clear and present danger" test, which balances the right to free speech against potential harms. Ergo, one cannot incite or advocate for physical harm to another or incite violence that would cause injury, but one can pontificate about war and revoilution.

• Education & Knowledge: Universities and educational institutions are supposed to thrive on free speech, where the free exchange of ideas exists as crucial for learning, research, and the advancement of knowledge. A pure environment that includes free speech protections not only benefits academia but also society at large by fostering critical thinking and informed citizenry. Today, increasingly – and directly because of the Marxist Left’s capture of the academic system, this environment is now the exception rather than the rule.

• Social Media& Modern Communication: In the digital age, platforms like X (formerly Twitter) have become pivotal in the discussion of free speech. They highlight how technology has expanded the reach of speech but also introduced new challenges regarding censorship, misinformation, and the balance between free expression and platform responsibility. Even so, Elon Musk and X are under constant attack by the Left for their audacity to exercise the very concept of free speech.

The Stepping Stones To Serfdom Through Censorship

There are some notable milestones that a society reaches in its devolution into totalitarianism. They adorn a path full of frustration and despair. These milestones include:

• Legal Restrictions on Speech: When laws are enacted that limit what can be said or published, especially on topics like politics, religion, or social issues, it sets a precedent for government control over thought. This can start with hate speech laws but expand to include any speech deemed offensive or against the state's interest.

• Censorship by Private Entities: Social media platforms and tech companies, while not government entities have significant power over information flow. When these platforms censor content or ban users based on political or ideological grounds, it mimics government censorship, affecting public discourse.

• Self-Censorship: The fear of backlash, whether from the government, employers, or societal groups, leads to self-censorship. This chilling effect on speech means that even without direct censorship, individuals refrain from expressing controversial or minority opinions, leading to a homogenized public discourse.

• Educational Institutions Limiting Speech: Universities and schools, meant to be bastions of free thought, sometimes enforce speech codes or safe spaces that limit discussion, impacting the development of critical thinking and the marketplace of ideas among the youth.

• Deplatforming & Cancel Culture: Public figures, academics, or ordinary citizens who express unpopular opinions can face deplatforming or cancellation, where they lose their platforms, jobs, or social standing. This not only punishes the individual but serves as a warning to others, further chilling speech.

• Legal Consequences for Speech: When individuals face legal action for their speech, like defamation suits that aim to silence critics or whistleblowers – or incarceration for political protest, it sets a precedent that speaking out can lead to financial ruin or imprisonment, deterring free expression.

• Government Propaganda & Control of Media: When governments control or heavily influence media narratives, alternative viewpoints are marginalized or eliminated, leading to a society where only government-approved information is disseminated.

• Surveillance & the Fear of Surveillance: Knowing that one's communications are monitored can lead to a society where people avoid discussing sensitive topics, even in private, fearing repercussions. This surveillance can be done by the state or through corporate data collection.

• Cultural Shifts Towards Conformity: Over time, if certain types of speech are consistently punished or ridiculed, a culture of conformity emerges where deviation from accepted norms is not just discouraged but can be socially or professionally suicidal.

• Erosion of the Democratic Processes: Without free speech, the ability to criticize the government, propose new ideas or even campaign for political office becomes restricted (evidenced in part by the unconstitutional gag order placed on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as a result of a trial brought about by political opportunism). This can lead to a lack of innovation in policy, reduced accountability, and eventually, a decline in democratic values as the public's ability to influence governance diminishes.

Each of these milestones contributes to a society where the free exchange of ideas is stifled, leading to a less vibrant, less informed, and potentially less democratic society. The cumulative effect of these restrictions can transform a free society into one where conformity is enforced, not through chains, but through the subtle yet pervasive control of what can be thought and said.

Free Speech Must Be Guarded & Restored Where Needed

Free speech is essential because it underpins democratic representative governance. It drives social and economic progress, ensures individual liberties, and promotes a tolerant, diverse society. It is the cornerstone of a free Republic and a free people.

Free speech is not just about the right to speak but also about creating an environment where ideas can compete, leading to better governance, societal evolution, and personal freedom.

While the importance of free speech is continually debated and redefined, especially in light of technological advancements and changing social norms, its core value in maintaining a free society remains undisputed.

…and that’s why protecting free speech from the regulatory ignorance of imbeciles like those who embrace the tenets of Marxism – like today’s far-Left in the Democrat Party and the elitist bi-coastal class – is paramount.

Without a protected right to free speech, our Republic will fade away, and people will be persecuted like they are in the United Kingdom, Australia, and other budding totalitarian societies.

“Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government: When this
support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved,
and tyranny is erected on its ruins.”
— Benjamin Franklin