Freedom of Speech
Overview
The marketplace of ideas benefits from the same forces and rules that propel the economic free market. Competition of ideas, just like between companies, helps refine and polish the best concepts while phasing out bad ideas.
The First Amendment must be aggressively defended, and any restrictions on speech that doesn’t cause material harm to others must be prohibited. Even those ideas that many deem offensive must be protected so that the marketplace of ideas may contemplate, discuss, and ultimately decide on such ideas.
Laws against offensive categories of speech – including pornography and hate crimes laws – are invalid because such speech does not cause material harm to any of the parties involved.
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Opinions
There should be no laws against pornography or hate crimes.
Jeffrey Miron, Harvard University
There should be no restrictions on free speech so long as it does not cause material of physical harm to others.
Dave Nalle, Republican Liberty Caucus
I’m not an absolutist on free speech. Threats shouldn’t be protected. Other than that, I’m an absolutist on free speech.
Walter Block, Loyola University New Orleans
The First Amendment should be as sacrosanct as the rest of the Constitution. The Tenth Amendment should be reinstated to make sure that the other Amendments stay in effect. Restore the Tenth Amendment!
Richard Timberlake, University of Georgia