Free Speech

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Politics is usually barred from polite talk at social get togethers because people become so emotional in discussing it that tempers flare and the party is spoiled. Many people regard those of an opposing political opinion as  right wing/left wing nuts (choose your preference).  Those with opposing views are ridiculed as idiots. This is a phenomenon of human psychology that applies to both sides of the political spectrum. 

But politicians are not superhuman gods immune from passion and prejudice. They will bring their beliefs to their job, if given the task of refereeing free speech.  I still believe that the best choice is to allow free debate to continue and trust the populace to choose wisely.  

The reality is that there are reasoned arguments for both the left and the right.   Human beings are not always reasonable, but hopefully enlightened self interest will keep people curious about what is really true, despite their prejudices. 

By the way, I did not pick Joe McCarthy as my spokesman for free speech.  I held him up as the model of the new censors of the left, who wish to pass laws to ban speech with which they disagree.   As I said, the left claims to be liberal, but they seem to feel quite comfortable censoring the opposition.  Joe McCarthy is a symbol of government power used to squelch free speech.  

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