why are we restricted our freedom of speech?

Answer 1

Because America is becoming a fascist state.
Really there's no hope for us... The party politics has gone way out of control.
Conservatives refuse to believe that we're losing our rights, even though the evidence is right there, and Liberals are focusing on the wrong things. There's no way we can fix anything while half the country hates the other half. Which is ridiculous, considering the two sides are so similar anyway...
We are restricted our freedom of speech because the government can, and knows that people will support them in doing so.
"Anyone who would give up liberty for a temporary feeling of safety deserves neither."
-Benjamin Franklin

Answer 2

Speaking from a European (UK) perspective, I thought freedom of speech in the USA was about as guaranteed as it gets anywhere? Can't you say whatever you want whenever you want and claim "freedom of speech"?

That said, my own belief and I'm sure that of others as well is that you can't say whatever you want whenever you want. Living in any modern and civilised society comes with responsibilites, such as not inciting violence or racial hatred through what you say or provoking fear of either of these two things. However here in the UK, I think that freedom of speech is overly restricted all supposedly because of the "war on terror" and that people saying and doing things which really are quite uncontroversial risk facing the wrath of the authorities. Recently there were environmentalists protesting against the expansion of Heathrow Airport near London (it is already huge and a monstrosity in more ways than one but I digress). What was the legislation used to control them? Basically the same that had as it goal to be used in the "war on terror". Or how about the ban on protest within a certain radius of the Houses of Parliament in Central London which has resulted in the arrest of some quite uncontroversial people who had perfectly valid points to make. Wasn't it also the case that ISPs (Internet Service Providers) were supposed to keep the records of ALL the activity of ALL of their customers so that the authorities could access it at will? Anti-terror legislation, anyone?

Kind of worrying if you think about it.

Answer 3

Because somehow we have allowed a government of ours to become one "Not for the People" but for their own political gains.

The whole Homeland Security premise where freedoms are taken away from States and individuals for some presumed higher good of the Nation has broken down our whole constitutional way of life. The return of the super strong federal government has put the comman man back under the same restrictions that gave rise to the Revolutionary War.

This time the common citizen soldier will not have a chance against the taxpayer funded automation of unmanned weapons that will wipe us from the streets of America unless the military stands up and refuses to do battle with its citizens.... Which way will they go?




g-day!

Answer 4

Because not all countries recognize the same freedoms as others. And even where speech is almost completely protected (as in the US) there are still limits,

The US Constitution protects speech -- except for specific unprotected categories, such as defamation or incitement to violence -- but it only protects against govt regulation or govt censorship.

Private forums create a space for people to speak -- and can control that space to any degree -- people people are always free to leave that private forum space and go somewhere else.

The reason that govt regulation of public speech is different than private regulation of private forums is obvious -- we cannot opt-out of following the laws -- we cannot simple choose to ignore the govt the way we can ignore a private forum.

Answer 5

I think we are restricted. We are not allowed to say what we think.If your a radical muslim cleric you can say whatever you like and anyone who says that is not true is a liar. That ridiculous man with the hook used to chant abou death to the Uk and America and about Jihad on a regular basis outside the Finsbury park mosque.

But if you were white with a skinhead and stood outside a church ranting and raving like a lunatic about blowing the middle east off the face of the earth and death to the muslim infidels the police would immediately leave dunkin doughnuts with blue lights flashing the whole lot and fit you directly into a straight jacket and this would be reasonable. But they should also of arrested old hook features too. But they never for that actual offence.

My point is that freedom of speech is only restricted under certain circumstances. Which is when it does't suit the dogooders and weirdos that run the Uk. We are restricted because they are scared of upsetting these dogooder people whoever they may be.

Answer 6

We have negative rights in the UK, so we aren't empowered with the freedom of speech but we are free to say whatever within the parameters of the law.

And the internet is empowering the individual to freely express themselves.

Answer 7

It is possible to have Freedom of Speech but not when someone uses that freedom to incite anti-social behavior or race hatred.

Freedom of Speech does not mean that anyone can state that all muslims are terrorists, or all blacks are thugs, or all americans are arrogant.

You can say your own opinion but not try to convince others to believe the way you do.

Answer 8

Well you can't yell fire in a crowded theater but that is one of the few restrictions I know of...

If you are referring to "YA" the last time I looked the site is owned outright by a private entity (company) and they can restrict whatever they want - there is no "right" to free speech on someone elses private property.

Answer 9

what other peoples rights are infringed. the BNP for one by not allowing the BNP to put their manifesto to the British public via radio or television. Big brother says they are racists, let the BNP on the debate programmes let us the public make up our own mind's. BOTH Labour and Tory adopt IN THEORY a lot of the BNP ideas to get your votes, but once you have voted, you shut up and be ruled by politicians not be represented by them. Lib Dem's put in at your peril, note they do not shout for PR anymore because the BNP would have seats in the commons

Answer 10

In solving the misery of living human kind?
Don't think so.
Just in case the dead Mummy risen from the graveyards floating around in making a mess out there.
In scaring the hell and living daylights out of the misery of living human kind back home.