A free market doesn’t violate free speech

A short primer on the Constitution for Republicans who are now throwing a hissy fit about “free speech” and “cancel culture.”

Among other rights, the First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech.” That means that the government cannot prevent you from freely expressing yourself (with certain exceptions, such as yelling “fire” in a crowded theater). It does NOT include indemnity from the consequences of your speech, and it does NOT compel anybody else to broadcast your speech.

So, if you say something which people find offensive, and as a result you lose your job or people stop patronizing your business, that is NOT an infringement on your freedom of speech. Similarly, the government cannot force private companies such as Facebook and Twitter to provide a platform for posts which violate their corporate policies.

When consumers stop buying products from Hobby Lobby or the My Pillow guy because they disagree with their political stances, that’s the free market in action, not “cancel culture.” Just like when other consumers stop attending NFL games or buying Nike tennis shoes or Dixie Chicks albums, or any of the other boycotts conservatives have gleefully participated in.

Neither “Big Tech” nor anyone else is stifling free speech; they’re operating in accordance with the rules of a market economy. I remember when the GOP used to support that.

— Scott Paulo, Chico