Did Barack Obama Just Attack Thomas Paine and Common Sense? The Erosion of Free Speech: From Thomas Paine to Modern America?
Be Vigilant America
Did Barack Obama Just Attack Thomas Paine and Common Sense? The Erosion of Free Speech: From Thomas Paine to Modern America?
As I reflect on the revolutionary spirit of Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" and its role in shaping American democracy, I'm struck by the stark contrast with recent comments made by former President Barack Obama. In a speech at Stanford University, Obama argued that the First Amendment shouldn't apply to social media companies, calling for more regulation to combat misinformation online. This stance seems to fly in the face of the principles of free expression that Paine championed and that have been fundamental to American democracy since its inception. It raises a troubling question: Has Obama, intentionally or not, launched an attack on the very ideals of free speech that Paine so eloquently defended?"
People are dying because of misinformation," Obama declared, advocating for greater oversight and regulation of Big Tech platforms. This stance, coming from a former president who once spoke loudly for hope and change, sends a chill down my spine. It's a far cry from the principles of free expression that Paine and our Founding Fathers fought so hard to establish.
Paine's "Common Sense" embodied the very essence of free speech. Published anonymously in 1776, it challenged the established order and sparked a revolution. Paine didn't ask for permission to speak truth to power; he seized the opportunity to share his ideas, trusting in the people's ability to reason and decide for themselves.
Now, we find ourselves in an era where even those who once occupied the highest office in the land seem willing to compromise on this fundamental right. Obama's assertion that "The First Amendment is a check on the power of the state. It doesn't apply to private companies like Facebook or Twitter" may be technically correct, but it misses the larger point. In our digital age, these platforms have become the new public square. Restricting speech there is akin to silencing voices in the town halls of Paine's day.
What would Thomas Paine say to this? I imagine he'd be appalled at the idea of any authority, government or corporate, deciding what information the public can or cannot access. He'd likely argue that the remedy for misinformation is not censorship, but more speech, more debate, more discussion and more critical thinking.
As we navigate these complex issues of free speech in the digital age, we must remember the revolutionary spirit that gave birth to our nation. We must be wary of well-intentioned efforts to regulate speech that could lead us down a slippery slope towards authoritarianism. Instead, we should focus on educating our citizens to be discerning consumers of information, capable of separating fact from fiction.
The challenges we face today with misinformation are real, but the solution cannot be to abandon our commitment to free expression. As Paine showed us, it is through the free exchange of ideas that society progresses. Let us honor his legacy by fiercely defending the right to speak freely, even… especially when we disagree with what's being said.
In these dangerous times, we would do well to heed Paine's words: "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it." The fight for free speech is never over. It's up to us to carry the torch forward, ensuring that the flame of liberty continues to burn bright for generations to come.
This essay was produced with research assistance from Perplexity
Common sense from Project Gutenberg https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/147
It's true. People die because of misinformation. And that's mostly governments who propagandize to defend their bonehead policies.