Sherman R. Frederick/Properly Subversive
Thomas Jefferson said that if he were forced to choose between “a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”
Of course, as an ink-stained wretch of the newspaper persuasion, I completely agree.
But where would old Tom be today in this Wild West age of social media?
I’d like to think he’d feel the same, even with the excesses of platforms like Twitter (now X), Facebook and Rumble. I fancy that he’d still stand up, straight and proud, for the creator-given right to speak without abridgments and remind all of the intertwined nature of freedom of expression and American-style liberty.
I fear, however, that people under 30 in this country have become more interested in the “right” to have fast internet service for gaming purposes than in robust and unfettered expression.
A recent poll conducted by the folks at Real Clear Politics suggests a clear shift in thinking.
This question caught my attention. People were asked whether they agreed with the statement: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Only 31% of Democratic voters “strongly agreed” with that sentiment and only 51% of Republicans.
And, the poll goes on to find that three-fourths of Democrats believe the government has a responsibility to limit “hateful” social media posts, while Republicans are more split, with 50% believing the government has a responsibility to restrict hateful posts. (Independents, once again, are in the middle.)
Scary as those numbers are, they become more pronounced when comparing age groups.
“Those under 30 are most open to censorship by the government,” the poll’s author said, adding that 42% of that group deem it “more important” to them that the government protect national security than guard the right to free expression. Among those over 65 years old, the corresponding percentage was 26%.
For all you teachers reading this, I’d ask you – no, I beg you – to consider showing students what life would be like in a world ruled by the majority as opposed to the rights of the individual. Explain to them the phrase “tyranny of the majority.” Teach them about Jim Crow laws.
I’m glad Americans still largely cherish the right to free expression. But there are some warning signs ahead.
SMART TRUTH
I’m not sure why it took an investigation by the Marin County Civil Grand Jury to elicit the unvarnished truth about SMART. But, it did.
The Grand Jury asked officials at Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit to respond to the question of whether there is any way the transit system can survive without public assistance – in this case a quarter-cent sales tax, which is up for renewal.
The answer: No way. Not in this lifetime or the next.
Is anyone genuinely surprised by this? It’s been the reality of public transportation everywhere and it goes double now as the post-pandemic work-from-home trend has taken hold. It raises the question of whether the assumptions behind the idea of SMART are still applicable.
Personally, I think it still works if it goes all the way into the city, but we ought to have that discussion as a community sooner rather than later.
GOVERNMENT SAYS
In response to last week’s column raising questions about mask mandates, reader Barb responded: “You do need to mask if that’s the instruction by the government.”
Whoa, Barb. Please see the Thomas Jefferson stuff above.
LOOPHOLE, MUCH?
When Kevin Cataneo Salazar, 29, allegedly shot Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, he had purchased a gun legally, despite the fact that he had been in and out of the hospital for a mental crisis multiple times and he twice tried to kill himself. You would think he’d have been flagged ineligible to buy a gun in California on mental grounds, but – and I kid you not about this – for the purposes of a gun purchase background check, attempting suicide is not a qualifying fact for denial.
Jay-zus, how’d that get by?
ONE MORE THING
Thanks for spending time in this little corner of Bay Area journalism. Until next time, avoid soreheads, laugh a little and always question authority.
(“Properly Subversive” is a commentary written by Sherman R. Frederick for Marinscope Community Newspapers, the “mother ship” of the Novato Advance, the Ross Valley Reporter, the San Rafael News-Pointer, Mill Valley Herald, Twin City Times and the Sausalito Marin Scope. Mr. Frederick leads Battle Born Media, a news organization dedicated to the preservation of community newspapers. You can reach him by email at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)
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