A major threat to liberty is the assault on the right to discuss political
issues, seek out alternative information sources, and promote dissenting ideas
and causes such as non-interventionism in foreign and domestic affairs. If
this ongoing assault on free speech succeeds, then all of our liberties are
endangered.
One of the most common assaults on the First Amendment is the attempt to force
public policy organizations to disclose their donors. Regardless of the intent
of these laws, the effect is to subject supporters of controversial causes
to harassment, or worse. This harassment makes other potential donors afraid
to support organizations opposing a popular war or defending the rights of
an unpopular group.
Many free speech opponents support laws and regulations forbidding activist
or educational organizations from distributing factual information regarding
a candidate's positions for several months before an election. The ban would
apply to communications that do not endorse or oppose any candidate. These
laws would result in the only sources of information on the candidate's views
being the campaigns and the media.
Recently the Federal Election Commission (FEC) rejected a proposal to add
language exempting books, movies, and streaming videos from its regulations.
The majority of FEC commissioners apparently believe they should have the power,
for example, to ban Oliver Stone's biography of Edward Snowden, since it was
released two months before the election and features clips of Hillary Clinton
and Donald Trump discussing Snowden.
The latest, and potentially most dangerous, threat to the First Amendment
is the war on "fake news." Those leading the war are using a few "viral" Internet
hoaxes to justify increased government regulation -- and even outright censorship
-- of Internet news sites. Some popular websites, such as Facebook, are not
waiting for the government to force them to crack down on fake news.
Those calling for bans on "fake news" are not just trying to censor easily-disproved
Internet hoaxes. They are working to create a government-sanctioned "gatekeeper" (to
use Hillary Clinton's infamous phrase) with the power to censor any news or
opinion displeasing to the political establishment. None of those wringing
their hands over fake news have expressed any concern over the fake news stories
that helped lead to the Iraq War. Those fake news stories led to the destabilizing
of the Middle East, the rise of ISIS, and the deaths of millions.
The war on "fake news" has taken a chilling turn with efforts to label news
and opinion sites of alternative news sources as peddlers of Russian propaganda.
The main targets are critics of US interventionist foreign policy, proponents
of a gold standard, critics of the US government's skyrocketing debt, and even
those working to end police militarization. All have been smeared as anti-American
agents of Russia.
Just last week, Congress passed legislation creating a special committee,
composed of key federal agencies, to counter foreign interference in US elections.
There have also been calls for congressional investigations into Russian influence
on the elections. Can anyone doubt that the goal of this is to discredit and
silence those who question the mainstream media's pro-welfare/warfare state
propaganda?
The attempts to ban "fake news;" smear antiwar, anti-Federal Reserve, and
other pro-liberty movements as Russian agents; and stop independent organizations
from discussing a politician's record before an election are all parts of an
ongoing war on the First Amendment. All Americans, no matter their political
persuasion, have a stake in defeating these efforts to limit free speech.
