1st Amendment & Free speech -- today's relevance

These discussion points are based on a Jan.28 Bill Mayer interview with Ira Glasser.

• Everyone believes in Free Speech as long as it’s Their speech that’s protected.

• ACLU defends free speech, even for Nazis and groups spouting hate speech and inciting violence. Should they?

• What limits should be imposed if any? Yelling “Fire” in a movie theater is a common example, but what others?

• How has the need for 1st Amendment protections changed over time with society?

• Should the Fairness Doctrine be restored, or is it now outdated? Fox News promotes itself as "fair and balanced," but are they?

• How does consolidation of media outlets (TV, radio, print) affect free speech?

• What role of social media? What about unfair platform size? (Trump’s tweets versus yours)

• With a louder voice, the powerful can gain more power. What about the others?

• What about the homeless? Incarcerated? Indigents? Immigrants? What voice do they have? Should they even have a voice?

• How does one "earn" the right of free speech, and how much of it should each of us get?

• What of small groups gaining extreme power, including Terrorists, Jan.6 insurrectionists, Timothy McVey (Oklahoma city bombing), school board meetings, voter intimidation, open carry of guns? Is intimidation free speech?

• Is racial and other prejudices free speech? What of Privilege vs Affirmative action? Or Harvard heritage admission?

• We can’t legislate thought, but it seems some are trying to ban books in schools. Who's free speech is being protected or violated?

• What about Red speech versus Blue speech and alternative facts and conspiracy theories? Who determines truth and decides on fact? And what of the dissenters?

• How might the 1st Amendment be weaponized?

• Is wearing a mask to protect self/others, or to hide identity? Is refusing to wear a mask protected free speech? Should it be?

• What about HIPPA regulations, personal identity, outright lies, and libelous claims?

• What about Truth in Advertising?

• Government programs never end, they say. Does that apply to the 1st Amendment? Shouldn’t we at least change it?

• Example: In a massive David v. Golliath win, my Austin non-profit (Homeowners of Texas) got an abusive state agency abolished, going up against the powerful Texas Homebuilders Association. The agency was the TRCC (Texas Residential Construction Commission).

This is an interesting and important program topic for a future APV meeting, so add any additional comments you have below.