A lot of folks are mad at Facebook, Twitter, etc. for censoring
posts containing views or statements that either favor one political bent or
denigrates the other, or which the platform’s pet fact-checkers have deemed to
be false, inciting, etc.
Fueled on by most broadcast “news” outlets, politicians and media
pundits, keyboard commandos have been shaking their virtual fists and demanding
that the social media giants be held accountable, even punished for these unconscionable
violations of our rights to free speech.
Ironically however, it wasn’t all that long ago that these
very same self-appointed champions of freedom and democracy, were demonizing
the billionaire CEOs of these very same platforms and demanding that they take
actions to control the content of their services, because their subscribers
were spreading “hate speech” or “fake news”.
In other words, many of the same voices now screeching about
censorship by big tech, were demanding that big tech censor their users posts just
months ago! Such is the strange and
tense dichotomy thrust upon the American psyche and experience, as it struggles
to embrace the shallow and emotion-driven “values” of the 21st
century techno-centric-community. Cake
anyone?
Congressional hearings ensued, and the evil (i.e. rich) CEOs
testified before their hostile inquisitors, ultimately capitulating in some
measured way, just enough to satiate their examiners who then marched them out
in front of the cameras for the purpose of convincing the blood-thirsty villagers
that they had actually contained the monster.
As is true for most issues propelled by emotional and
reactionary forces, the result sought is woefully shortsighted, paying little
to no attention to the logical, natural, if not necessary consequences of their
demands. And such is true where demands
for government intervention and control of social media (euphemized by the more
comfortable word, ‘regulation’) is concerned.
History teaches us that, once invited to the party, Uncle
Sam will move into the spare room, take over the kitchen, living room and
(GASP) the TV remote, then start charging the homeowner rent to stay in their
own house. If this sounds like it’s
describing taxes, there’s a reason for that, because it is. Think for a moment, about the number of “fees”
the government demands from you, for the privilege of owning, operating and/or
occupying your own property, car, etc. But
let’s not get sidetracked by the fun and entertaining subject of taxes. Where were we… Oh yes, free speech.
By refusing to govern and stand up for themselves, and by
failing to exercise their freedoms of choice in the marketplace of social media
platforms, the people begging that the government protect their fragile ears
and egos are in reality, demanding that the government take over the business
of controlling what we can and can’t say, as well as where and when we can say
it. That power, once relinquished to the
state, cannot be won back, except by costly and painful conflict. After all, while our natural right to freedom
of speech is granted to us all by our Creator, the codification and civil
protection of that right was only won through the brutality of war.
So I ask you; are you willing to give up the right to freely
speak of your thoughts and beliefs, just so that you can have the temporary satisfaction
of watching the government strip that right away from those with whom you
disagree, or by whom you are offended?
Be very slow and deliberate in how you answer that question because, those
in power today, will not be in power tomorrow; and those in power tomorrow, may
well not like what you have to say.
Likewise, the social media platforms are private companies
and, as such, have the right to make the rules for those who choose to use
their services. As has been noted above, allowing or demanding
that the government take control over how private citizens conduct their own
businesses, is an invitation to tyranny which will flood over this country in a
way not seen since our battle for independence from the tyranny of King George
III.
Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
-PDS, Nov 12, 2020
