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Originally Posted by thedentist
Two thumbs up with this one. Good point
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There is more freedom of speech in the US than in some other countries. But there is less in the US than in some other countries and less in the US than there once was - an ominous trend.
Protests are now generally LICENSED to occur in "free speech zones." Apparently, anyplace outside a free speech zone is NOT available for the free expression of ideas - at least in the US.
The involvement of private wealth in public politics has moved the discussion of policy in the US in a decidedly rightward direction (no surprise, since the wealth establishment is invested in maintaining and expanding the redistribution of the nation's wealth into their own pockets). So, within pre-established zones, the US public is "free" to express views that are the result of listening to media that has been bought by the super-wealthy elitists who use the media they own to frame the discussion in ways that push their own private agenda. So you end up with a centrist like Obama being widely "thought" of as a liberal (who, once he compromises, will end up giving the US rightist and pro-elitist policies that further enrich the super-wealthy at the expense of we the people). And you end up with "populist" movements (like the tea party) that are either funded by the super-rich or influenced by propaganda pushed by the super-rich. These movements, and to a large degree the american people, think they are acting on behalf of "freedom" when in fact they are acting on behalf of the super-rich at the expense of freedom.
And if y'all in Britain think you are above all this - think again.
WE are in a war, folks. And WE are losing.