Free Speech and the Information Monopoly

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Those are the words of the First Amendment to the US Constitution.  For any dictator or a wannabe dictator, those words represent extreme risk and vulnerability.  In fact, if the provisions of the First Amendment are upheld, it would be virtually impossible for a tyrant to overthrow the existing government and establish a totalitarian regime. 

The body of the US Constitution is the operating manual for the federal government.  The Bill of Rights defines the authority limitations of the federal government’s relationship to the individual sovereign states and to each one of their sovereign citizens – namely you and me.

The entire Bill of Rights, including the First Amendment, has been under attack for decades.  Tyrants cannot tolerate dissent in any form.  They work tirelessly to eliminate an individual’s ability and right to express his opinions to others – privately, in the public square, or by any available method of communication.  Direct or indirect control of all media by the government is the most effective way to broadcast a uniform message to the entire population.  By eliminating opposing views, all the information spread is merely propaganda, disinformation, and lies to deceive and control the population.

Religious freedom has always been a key element in American society.  The Pilgrims left England and sailed to America in 1620 to avoid forced participation in the Anglican Church established by the English King.  Throughout history, combining religion and government has often led to persecution and war.  The First Amendment prohibition against the “establishment of religion” stems from these historical events.   

The First Amendment protects the free and open exercise of religion.  The Jewish community in Spain flourished for many centuries.  During the Spanish Inquisition (1478 – 1834), persecution and violence against Jews in Spain reached tragic proportions.  Jews and other non-Christians were forced to choose between Christianity or death.  Many Jews, called Marranos, pretended conversion but continued to practice Judaism in secret.  

In what many consider blatantly unconstitutional actions, state governments have forced the closure of churches this past year ostensibly to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.   Large retailers, however, remained open using precautions that churches could easily have been allowed to adopt.  This double standard exposes an obviously blatant attempt by collectivist government to replace religion and a belief in God with their chosen faith in the false idols of climate change, social justice, cancel culture, and government.             

Active censorship and political bias by the media is by far the greatest threat to the long-term survival of our constitutional republic.  The press was given special protections in the First Amendment, because our founders understood that an educated and informed public was essential for the preservation of freedom.  There has always been diversity of opinion, vigorous debate, and even malicious vindictiveness in the media.  Nevertheless, it was expected that citizens would be able to make knowledgeable decisions based on balanced coverage of news and events containing truthful opinions from all sides of the political spectrum.

When media corporations form an “information monopoly” to promote a political agenda, they are guilty of violating the intention and meaning of the First Amendment.  Large social media conglomerates actively censor speech by deciding in an arbitrary manner what words and thoughts are “acceptable” for publication.  Both public figures and private individuals who dare to oppose their collectivist agenda can lose access to their social media accounts suddenly and without explanation.  These actions are especially heinous and malicious if innuendo and deliberate lies are knowingly used to undermine our constitutional freedoms and divide the American people.    

In essence, our ability to communicate among ourselves and to exercise our constitutionally protected rights of free speech and assembly is now held hostage to the whims of nameless, faceless, arrogant editors with a collectivist one-world agenda.

This tyranny of the Information Monopoly can no longer be tolerated. 

Resist Tyranny and Trust in Freedom!

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Dr. Dan’s guest on Freedom Forum Radio this weekend is Richard Salazar, Chairman of Speak Freely America, the Free Speech Movement designed to “cancel the cancel culture” by supporting every American’s right to speak freely.

We will promote political candidates who support free  speech for every American. We will call on voters to reject any politician who opposes free speech. We will expose all corporations who support cancelling voices they don’t agree with. We will organize peaceful protests wherever we need to, to get our message across clearly. 

Part one of this four-part interview begins this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, April 10-11 on WJRB 95.1 FM and streamed live over the Internet. Part two airs Saturday and Sunday, April 17-18, part three airs Saturday and Sunday, April 24-25, and part four airs May1-2. All programs are available by podcast following air time here.