It can't be lost on you; the left used to love Elon Musk. If he so much as uttered a phrase the crowd went crazy. He had Steve Jobs like stature. Musk introduced a hideous vehicle he called a truck and the world applauded.
That love has evaporated for the world's favorite White African American. Musk has suddenly become unpopular with the lefties because they found out he is for free speech, all of it. Think of the concept, "I am for free speech, but you are dead wrong and will I defend your right to say your piece".
That is an American cornerstone, maybe not exclusive to America, but we have worn that moniker proudly. Stand on a soapbox and preach your story. I remember being fascinated by Black Nationalists standing on the streets of Midtown Manhattan calling out their own race for failing their children. I thought these men have a lot of guts,
I've heard clips of Harry Truman using language that would curdle milk, Louis Farrakkan preaching separatism, Bobby Knight screaming at every official who officiated an Indiana game. I've heard outlandish claims made by callers to my radio show, I applaud a constitution that not only approves of all speech but guarantees it.
How can the left miss the point of free speech? It's an incredible talk show topic and I would get few calls from those who think speech should be limited. Yet there is a group of people who espouse limits on speech. Can you imagine this day would occur in America?
I can't pinpoint or prove it, but you see the same, not so veiled, threats regarding Musk and Twitter. The president's spokesman commenting on Musk' purchase of Twitter in paraphrasing what she said- we look into all speech, and we will keep an eye on Musk's purchase of Twitter. When did we start doing that? Do we limit what The Youngstown Vindicator or Warren Tribune prints? Do we monitor channel 27 for political comment? Shutter the thought, that's censorship and that is verboten in America
That's what our founding fathers thought too. Let all speech in and allow the speech to fail on it's own merit. If it's libelous or scandalous remedies are to be found in our courts. Twitter, in just a few short years has become more important than the legacy media and some think it has to be controlled. It's hard to understand, college educated youth would have the idea that you would violate our most important right in the bill of rights.
Remember, just a few months ago it was applauded when Twitter kicked President Donald Trump from its platform. Lefties delighted in taking down conservative thought. Not all if it, but enough that it was noticeable. Remember you could be DE platformed for questioning the efficacy of the vaccine?
If Free "Speech" was used as a Talk Radio Topic, their would-be little support for inhibiting speech. Despite that, there is an undercurrent of thought that suggests people like Donald Trump should not be allowed to opine. Trump is not the only one, but his is the face of this movement.
Even though you would like to give flag burners a knuckle sandwich, you come to your senses and realize they have the right to express themselves in America. As an American and a veteran, I find it despicable that one would have that sentiment. but that kind of thought that is protected in our system.
Libertarians have it mostly right. Do as you please, as long as no harm comes to others. I said almost, because at the end of the day, fail to wear a seatbelt, and you are un-insured becomes a societal problem. You are now unnecessarily a burden to society, indirectly because you exercised your right to go beltless.
Talk Radio is similar to Twitter but with more anonymity. you are given limited access to a large audience. Twitter gives you limited access to the largest audience that you can cultivate. Talk radio limits the time you get on air, mostly due to commercials news and format constrictions. Twitter limits your access by asking you to be brilliant on a 280-character Tweet. Talk radio judges your comments with instant analysis by the host and other callers. The better your call, the longer you stay on the air. Twitter praises or rebukes your comments with others who are free to make an anonymous comment about the quality of your tweet.
Talk radio does not work well, when overbearing management decides what one's editorial opinion should be. When that happens, the host is only a call manager for a failing radio show. Parenthetically Twitter does not need an overlord who dictates what can be said or who can say it. There is no one, no Algorhythm that can manage what open and free speech should look like.
Therefore, complete hands off, allow the marketplace to make the decision on commentary and ideas. Curtail child pornography- which Musk is doing. Fight back against anyone who attempts to undermine your right to free speech. You have been given more free speech than anyone on earth, use it wisely and prepare to fight anyone who would endeavor to take it from you. The bottom line, make the left defend why they want to curtail in free speech which is guaranteed in the constitution.
Dan Rivers
570 WKBN