Is United States Freedom of Speech in Peril?

One of my many favorite things about living in the United States is the amount of freedom of speech enjoyed in this country compared to many (almost all?) others.

For me, the United States flag is (among other things) a symbol that reminds me of that freedom of speech. Below is a 2016 photo I took of a U.S. flag near courthouses in Lexington, Kentucky.

Is this freedom of speech in peril?

Freedom of speech is one of the things supposedly guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. What that freedom includes and doesn’t include is defined by various court decisions over the years.[1] It changes as new court cases are decided.

U.S. Freedom of Speech Has Always Been Limited

Freedom of speech in the U.S. has always had limitations. Certain officials and soldiers are sworn to secrecy about certain plans and activities of the military for example. Organizations often require employees to keep trade secrets.

Furthermore, even certain fiction novels have been banned at times. As an example, the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was banned for a time in some areas due to its depiction of slavery.   

Currently Debate Occurs Over Internet Media Censorship

Debate is ongoing over to what extent Internet social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube can and should censor speech, such as hate speech, presumed fake news, and classified information, as well as over how much restraint public officials ought to exercise in their public comments.

Two 2020 Situations

One situation occurred on February 13^th, 2020. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul on Twitter tweeted[2] “A chilling and disturbing day in America when giant web companies such as @YouTube decide to censor speech.” Senator Paul posted in response to YouTube removing a clip of Paul speaking at the U.S. Senate. You can argue that YouTube made the correct decision in that particular case, but once censorship of speeches at Senate meetings begins, where does it end?

A second 2020 situation involved West Virginia’s then governor, who also served as coach of the Greenbriar East High School girls’ basketball team and was accused of racism after calling some representatives of another team “a bunch of thugs[3]” due to behavior during a February 11^th, 2020 high school basketball game. The coach’s words were I think uncalled for, inappropriate, and perhaps one-sided since he coaches the Greenbriar team. But was his statement racist?[4] Based on what I read, he seemed to be criticizing behavior, not race. The term racism is overused nowadays as I see it. Too many seem to discourage freedom of thought by criticizing comments of those who disagree with one as being racist.

Inconsistency

In recent years at least a few careers have basically ended due to making one politically incorrect statement about certain races, cultures, religious groups, sexual orientations, or an individual. It will be great if this leads to less vulgar language, lying, and hyperbole. It will be wonderful if it leads to persons not speaking disparagingly about other races, cultures, religious groups, etc.

But if it gets to the point where it discourages honest, open communication, I think it has gone too far. Even worse, while horrible language is despised in some cases, it is tolerated or even encouraged in others. Where is the consistency?  

Often fake news and Internet messages with false or misleading information go viral. Some of the Twitter comments by President Trump, as well as statements by liberal and conservative broadcast commentators like Rachel Maddow and Rush Limbaugh, seem to go way overboard. Yet they go viral and are acclaimed by many followers while condemned by many detractors. 

When I grew up in the 1960s and 1970s pornography and vulgar language were not acceptable in public or in public media like television, radio, or mainstream motion pictures for the general public. Now such things are often tolerated in the name of freedom of speech.    

Where is balance? What is the proper perspective?

Personally, I despise hate speech and strongly dislike the willingness and ability for fake news to be spread so quickly and broadly. I also dislike obscene and pornographic videos, pictures, and words.

I know there is a gray area between what is acceptable and what isn’t. It isn’t always clear-cut what should be allowed. 

But I find it inappropriate that persons who have served effectively for years in a career can be castigated and ruined for one comment, while others can seemingly speak at will. I recognize those in positions of authority need to be held accountable to a higher standard. But the standard needs to be fair and fairly consistently applied.

While certain prominent persons seem to be able to promote such things at will, others seem to be ostracized and ruined for making what seems to be one relatively minor misstatement.

News headlines frequently result from online bullying of school children, hate speech against minority groups, and other similar things. But what is the best way to eliminate such speech, while tolerating and encouraging a variety of views and a reasonable amount of freedom of speech?

What was acceptable in past generations is now unacceptable, for better or worse. And I think it is for better in some cases, for worse in others. Huckleberry Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird are classic novels that I enjoyed reading during my childhood. Even today I think they both have great merit that outweighs the weaknesses of the stereotypes portrayed in both books. Others disagree. Similar things can be stated for many other books, magazines, movies, television shows, etc.

The Changing Nature of News Coverage

The plethora of websites, abundant availability of computers with printers that could in theory allow most of us to print our own newsletter or polemic, and the widespread use of cellphones with capabilities that would have seemed almost unbelievable a generation or two ago make more information available to more people than ever before in history in a sense. In 2020 I wrote a piece for the now defunct website, Craft News Report, titled, “The Changing Nature of News Coverage[5].”

The main sources of news in the last two centuries, newspapers, are folding. They may be almost completely gone in a generation. In January 2020, the local newspaper here in Lexington, Kentucky, a city of over 300,000 people, ceased publishing a Saturday print edition. The next month its parent company (McClatchy) filed for bankruptcy.

The future of newspapers in general is in doubt. I dislike the liberal bias of the Lexington paper, but it has the largest staff of any news provider in the eastern half of Kentucky and probably offers more news stories than any other in this half of the state. What will replace the void if/when it and other local newspapers disappear?

Providing more revenue to news providers could help. The Wall Street Journal reported February 14, 2020[6] that Google was considering paying some publishers for news. This could be a great opportunity to provide needed revenue to producers of quality news. But it raised the questions of who would be paid, how much, and how it would impact such news producers if it took place. Would news producers censor their production to produce what Google and/or other news purchasers want?

During the years 2020-2023, discussions have continued over the use (or abuse) of news by Internet websites, including Google. There have apparently been some agreements to pay publishers for news, consideration of laws to require it, etc. It remains to be seen what the long term results will be. 

We have much more news than ever before and more ways to share it. But more doesn’t always mean better. And the shutdown of a few major computer servers, censorship by some governments, and just changing the criteria for how search results are displayed on Google could affect the availability of much of this information.

Few of us could afford to research, print, and mass distribute a newsletter printed from our own computer. And how many persons own their own server to distribute things online?

Furthermore, what if a major electrical outage occurred due to weather or another factor?

There are lots of things to consider. For me one key consideration is whether mainstream news websites, public figures, and others will avoid covering certain stories or saying certain important things out of fear of offending certain groups. Let’s seek a proper balance.

ENDNOTES:

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[1] “What Does Free Speech Mean?”; USCourts.gov; webpage accessed February 16, 2020; https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/what-does

[2] Rand Paul; Twitter tweet; Twitter.com; 10:20 a.m., February 13, 2020; webpage accessed February 16, 2020; https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1227975800928063490

[3] Tyler Jackson; “Justice: ‘They’re a bunch of thugs’ ”; The Register-Herald; February 12, 2020; webpage accessed February 16, 2020; https://www.register-herald.com/sports/justice-they-re-a-bunch-of-thugs/article_9cd95d82-4d57-11ea-8596-f76726a5a528.html

[4] Jessica Farrish; “NAACP calls for a meeting”; The Register-Herald; February 13, 2020; webpage accessed February 16, 2020; https://www.register-herald.com/news/naacp-calls-for-a-meeting/article_75b69a18-7917-5035-bcb3-b141fce6696d.html 

[5] James Edwin Gibson; “The Changing Nature of News Coverage”; Craft News Report; August 11, 2019; webpage accessed February 16, 2020; https://craftnewsreport.com/blog/f/the-changing-nature-of-news-coverage The website has since closed down.

[6] Benjamin Mullin; “Google in Talks to Pay Publishers for News”; Wall Street Journal; updated February 14, 2020, 3:46 p.m. EST; webpage accessed February 16, 2020; https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-in-talks-to-pay-publishers-for-content-in-premium-news-product-11581689169

NOTE:

This article submitted to Google Blogger on February 16, 2020 is virtually identical to one submitted earlier the same day to Craft News Report, a website operated by the author’s friend Paul Craft.

This article was last revised on February 22, 2023. 

Seek True Love for Valentine's Day

Today, Tuesday, February 14, 2023, is Valentine’s Day. Seek true love for Valentine’s Day this year.

The historical background of Valentine’s Day is discussed in many online articles, including one on History.com.[1]

Valentine’s Day is a huge commercial success for many here in the United States. Statistica.com[2] estimates that U.S. "Planned Valentine's Day spending" for 2023 will be "approximately 26 billion U.S. dollars." Large sales of chocolates and other candies, as well as fresh flowers occur.

School children enjoy Valentine’s parties with the exchange of valentines, accompanied by eating tasty candies. And I hope the kids brush their teeth later!

I cherish fond memories of exchanging valentines with elementary school classmates. I kept many (if not all) of those childhood valentines. I think they're still stored in a box at my mom's house.

In my apartment, I still have a few valentines I received years ago as an adult; below are photos of three of those: two from my sisters and one from my dad and mom.

Advertisements urge persons to make specific extravagant purchases to show their love for someone. But is that true love? My answer is no.

As I see it, true love is showing genuine care and compassion for others. God sets the perfect example of love for us. If we remember to always put the highest righteous authority, God, first, we will be blessed. Remember that joy and fulfillment come from God, and from within ourselves, not from other people. If one is not joyful single, one probably won’t be joyful married.

Yet, even many persons who claim to be Christians devote much of their time to pursuing romantic love, searching for the right mate—supposedly a godly mate.  I do not believe a person will find a godly mate if one is more devoted to seeking a mate than to seeking God.  Always put God first.  If Christians (and others) did this, much divorce could be prevented.

Dating and Romance

For those interested in romance, instead of rushing into an emotional, romantic relationship, build it slowly.  Develop numerous friendships with people with whom one shares common interests.  Gradually become closer friends with those whom you share many common interests.

Ideally, intellectual and spiritual attraction should precede emotional, romantic attraction.  How can one evaluate someone from an unbiased perspective when one’s emotions are raging out of control?

In fact, if one has the discipline to do so, I think it best to avoid kissing your spouse until after the minister states “you may kiss the bride” at the wedding.  Furthermore, do not rush into marriage without knowing your prospective spouse well.  Spend time together in a variety of settings and activities.  Learn their attitudes regarding money management, careers, having and raising children, spiritual beliefs, morals, etc.

Personally, I consider traditional dating a mistake.  Persons put their best foot forward, spend money on special activities, and focus their time and energy on impressing their date/victim.

For those interested in Christian alternatives to dating, many resources are available in Christian stores, online, and elsewhere.  You may prefer other resources, but I enjoyed reading Joshua Harris’ 1997 book I Kissed Dating Goodbye some years ago.  The views expressed in his book are similar to my own.   The book focused on putting one’s relationship with God first, and detailed an alternative approach to building relationships – instead of dating.  A revised edition has been published since I read the book and is probably still in print.

Remaining Single Can Be a Joyous Option

Remember that joy and fulfillment come from God and from within one’s self, not from other people.  It is unfair to expect others to provide one’s happiness.  I know too many people who were unhappy single and rushed into romantic relationships seeking fulfillment—the relationships usually failed.

If one is not joyful single, one probably won’t do the things necessary to be happily married.  A successful relationship requires the two parties to communicate openly and honestly, as well as to help one another.

The highest calling may be to remain single.  Develop both male and female friendships without succumbing to sexual attraction.  As Galatians 3:28 puts it “. . . neither male nor female:  for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (KJV)

Personally, I feel called to be single, at least for now.  Maybe you do, too.  Jesus apparently remained single his entire life, and the Apostle Paul apparently was single during the years of his ministry.  It only takes a few minutes to read Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:10-12 and the Apostle Paul’s words in I Corinthians 7 on the blessings of remaining single.  Please read these wise words encouraging persons with the discipline to resist sexual lust to remain single. For good measure, take a few minutes to read the words in I Corinthians 13 on love.

Real Love

Indeed, often it seems young children and senior citizens do a far better job of demonstrating unselfish true love for others than the romantic teenagers and middle-aged couples who often seem to be seeking what they can get out of a relationship, not what they can put into it. Watch how many kids and older adults treat people.

By putting God first this Valentine’s Day (and every day), one can enjoy God’s blessings in all one’s personal relationships!

ENDNOTES:

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[1] “History of Valentine’s Day”; History.com; updated August 29, 2019, originally posted December 22, 2009; webpage accessed February 9, 2020; https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day-2

[2] Emma Bedford; “Total expected Valentine’s Day spending in the United States from 2009-2020”; Statistica.com; January 31, 2020; webpage accessed February 9, 2020;https://www.statista.com/statistics/285028/us-valentine-s-day-sales/

webpage was accessed again on February 14, 2023, when the title was "Total expected Valentine's Day spending in the United States from 2009-2023," authored by D. Tighe, and published January 26, 2023;

NOTE:

This article being submitted to Google Blogger on February 10, 2020 is virtually identical to one the author submitted to Craft News Report, a website operated by his friend Paul Craft, on February 9, 2020. That article was adapted and updated from articles the author originally wrote for other websites in 2007.

This article was last revised on February 14, 2023.

What Should Be Done About Huge U.S. Government Budget Deficits?

Households, businesses, and even U.S. state governments face budget balancing requirements that the federal government does not.

If individuals, businesses, or states spend more than than they take in in revenue, they run into huge problems quickly. With the federal government, it takes longer for major problems to occur. But even the United States federal government faces major upcoming problems due to its huge and growing federal debt.

Below are photos of some economics textbooks. But it's not necessary to read an economic text to realize that a basic budgeting principle is that a budget should balance. Expenditures ought not exceed outlays. 

    

Since I originally published this article on February 1, 2020, the United States government's national debt has continued to increase. The United States has an official maximum debt limit, but it is increased periodically as the national debt grows to the limit.   As of today, May 16, 2023, efforts are underway to raise the national debt limit again.

Yesterday, May 15, 2023, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen sent a letter to Congressional leaders [1] estimating that the U.S. Treasury couldn't meet all obligations if the debt limit wasn't raised "by early June, and potentially as early as June 1, 2023."

The federal government's fiscal year runs from October of one year through September of the following year, thus fiscal 2023 ends in September 2023. After a horrendous $3.13 trillion 2020 fiscal year federal budget deficit due largely to COVID-19 and costs related directly and indirectly to it, the deficit dropped in 2021 to $2.77 trillion, and again in 2022 to $1.38 trillion, according to U.S. Treasury data.[2] But the Treasury's data indicates that for the current fiscal year of 2023 the deficit is expected to increase dramatically, with the seven month October 2022-April 2023 deficit of $925 billion being $565 billion more than the $360 billion deficit for the corresponding months of fiscal 2022.

As of May 12, 2023 the Congressional Budget Office forecasts[3] a $1.5 trillion deficit for fiscal 2023. In a May 2023 update the Congressional Budget Office estimates [4] that the deficit will rise to $2.703 trillion for fiscal year 2033.

Various factors can alter things. When I originally wrote this article in 2020, the fiscal 2020 deficit was expected to top one trillion dollars and in the future even larger ones were expected according to the Congressional Budget Office’s[5] outlook for 2020-2030. Due to COVID-19 that 2020 deficit was actually over $3 trillion, as mentioned over.

Even worse, the same Congressional Budget Office in that 2020 document in its 30 year outlook stated that “By 2050, debt is projected to reach 180 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), far higher than any percentage previously recorded in the United States and on track to grow even larger.”

The problem is not lack of revenue. The CBO document states that federal revenues will increase “from 16.3 percent of GDP in 2019 to 18.6 percent in 2050. However, spending would increase even more, rising from 21.0 percent of GDP in 2019 to 30.4 percent in 2050—driven by increases of 4.8 percentage points in mandatory spending and 5.4 percentage points in net outlays for interest. Increases in mandatory spending would result from the aging of the population and growth in per capita spending on health care. Higher interest costs would stem from increases in federal borrowing and rising interest rates.”

The CBO forecast is based on assumptions which are subject to change as time goes on. But it is well known that our population is aging, people are living more years after retirement, and health care costs are rising. Therefore, unless major increases in revenue occur, we need to make changes.

During the three years from 2020 to 2023, the national debt has continued increasing. Expected increases in expenditures on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are likely to put bigger strains on the budget in upcoming decades.

Below I discuss some things we can do to reduce the U.S. government's projected future annual budget deficits.

Better Preventive Health Care and Working Longer Due to Enjoying Careers

It would help if we took better preventive care of our health to reduce health care costs. The majority of our health problems are preventable as I discussed in a 2020 post on the now-defunct website Craft News Report.[6] If health care costs are less, Medicare and Medicaid expenditures will be lower.

Furthermore, if persons remain healthy and enjoy their careers, they may choose to work more years. Thus, they will be drawing retirement benefits fewer years and paying taxes into the retirement system more years. Many persons might choose to never retire. Even now, there are lots of folks in their 60s, 70s, and older who choose to keep working because they like their jobs.

Reduce Military Spending

Another factor leading to huge budget deficits is military spending. Large amounts are spent on military weaponry, personnel, etc.

The war in Ukraine is a current example. The United States has provided and/or committed to provide Ukraine billions of dollars of military aid since the war began, $37.6 billion according to a CNN article[7] updated on May 9, 2023. In my opinion, this war like all or almost all others was preventable.  

According to the Brown University Costs of War Project[8] “Since late 2001, the United States has appropriated and is obligated to spend an estimated $6.4 Trillion through Fiscal Year 2020 in budgetary costs related to and caused by the post-9/11 wars—an estimated $5.4 Trillion in appropriations in current dollars and an additional minimum of $1 Trillion for US obligations to care for the veterans of these wars through the next several decades.”

In September 2021 Brown University [9] estimated the costs of post 9/11 U.S. war spending as over $8 trillion dollars through fiscal year 2022, including projected future spending on "veterans care over the next 30 years."

From my perspective much of this spending has been counterproductive, leading more persons to become terrorists rather than reducing terrorism. Let’s cut military spending and reduce international military activity.

Does U.S. Government Tax Revenue Need to Increase?

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act produced tax cuts that led to less government revenue than would otherwise have occurred in 2018 according to the Tax Policy Center.[10] A Wall Street Journal article[11] is one of many noting that U.S. government tax revenue declined in 2018 compared to 2017.

That data is for the calendar year, but the United States government’s fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30. By fiscal year calculations, federal government tax revenue went up slightly in 2018 and bigger increases were estimated for 2019 and expected for 2020 according to data on TheBalance.[12]

In the years since 2020, tax revenue has increased. Record revenue is expected for fiscal year 2023.

Still, it's possible that more tax revenue may be needed. But the greater problem is that spending is increasing too fast. Indeed, the CBO projections are for tax revenue to increase in upcoming years, but not as fast as spending increases.

The Treasury Department reports[13] that U.S. government revenue for the first seven months of fiscal year 2023 (October 2022-April 2023) was $2.69 trillion, but the government has spent $3.61 trillion, thus leading to a huge deficit.

U.S. Congress Can Cut Wasteful Spending

Each annual federal budget that is passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by the President contains wasteful spending that could be cut out of the budget.

Both Democrats and Republicans insert into the budget and vote for pork-barrel projects that needlessly spend taxpayers' money. This needs to cease or at least be dramatically reduced.

Below is a June 22, 2017, photo of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, where the U.S. Congress meets.

Reducing Interest Costs

Interest on the national debt is a big expense. Taking action to reduce the annual budget deficits will reduce the annual expenditures on interest on the debt.

Summary and Conclusion

As I discussed earlier in this piece, we can dramatically reduce projected government spending and budget deficits by:

·         Better preventive care cutting health care costs

·         Persons choosing to work more years due to better health and enjoying their careers

·         Reducing unnecessary military spending

·         Reducing annual interest costs on the debt by lowering deficits

The sooner we make changes the less drastic that the changes need to be.

Unfortunately, often it seems Republicans want to increase military spending and cut taxes, while Democrats want to increase spending on benefits programs. The two parties often seem to “compromise” by increasing spending on both the military and benefits programs while cutting taxes.

Getting political leaders to make tough cuts is unlikely. But we citizens can and should take actions to take better care of our health, find and work at jobs we enjoy, and pressure our leaders to reduce unnecessary spending on the military and other things.

Our futures and those of future generations will be affected by what actions we take now. Let’s seek to take the correct ones.

ENDNOTES:  

[1] Yellen, Janet; "Debt Limit Letter to Congress Leaders"; May 15, 2023; webpage accessed May 16, 2023; https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Debt-Limit-Letter-to-Congress-Members_20230515_McCarthy.pdf

[2] "What Is the national deficit?"; Treasury.gov; webpage accessed May 16, 2023; https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/national-deficit/#us-deficit-by-year

[3] "Budget"; Congressional Budget Office; webpage accessed May 16, 2023; https://www.cbo.gov/topics/budget#:~:text=View%20CBO's%20budget%20infographics%20to,over%20the%20past%20few%20decades.&text=In%20CBO's%20projections%2C%20the%20federal,year%20from%202024%20to%202033.

[4] "An Update to the Budget Outlook: 2023-2033": May 2023; Congressional Budget Office; webpage accessed May 16, 2023; https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2023-05/59096-Budget-Outlook.pdf

[5] “The Budget and Economic Outlook:2020-2030”; Congressional Budget Office; January 2020; webpage accessed February 1, 2020; https://www.cbo.gov/publication/56073

[6] James Edwin Gibson; “True Health Care Reform: Better Preventive Care”; Craft News Report; March 30, 2019; webpage accessed February 1, 2020; https://craftnewsreport.com/the-answer-to-health-care [The CraftNewsReport website has since closed down.

[7] Oren Liebermann and Haley Britzky; "U.S. announces $1.2 billion aid package to Ukraine with counteroffensive looming; CNN; updated 10:49 a.m. ET, May 9, 2023; webpage accessed May 16, 2023; https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/08/politics/ukraine-aid-package-counteroffensive/index.html

[8] Neta C. Crawford; “United States Budgetary Costs and Obligations of Post-9/11 Wars Through FY2020: $6.4 Trillion”; Brown University; November 13, 2019; webpage accessed February 1, 2020; https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/files/cow/imce/papers/2019/US%20Budgetary%20Costs%20of%20Wars%20November%202019.pdf

[9] "Costs of War; Estimate of U.S. Post-9/11 War Spending in $ Billions FY2001-FY2022"; Brown University; posted on September 1, 2021; webpage accessed May 16, 2023; https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/figures/2021/BudgetaryCosts

[10] William G. Gale and Aaron Krupkin; “Did the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Pay for Itself in 2018?”; TaxPolicyCenter.org; March 13, 2019; webpage accessed February 1, 2020; https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox/did-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act-pay-itself-2018

[11 Kate Davidson; “U.S. Tax Revenues Fall, Deficit Widens in Wake of New Tax Law”; updated February 13, 2019; webpage accessed February 1, 2020; https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-tax-revenue-declined-0-4-in-2018-11550084426

[12] Kimberly Amadeo; “US Government Tax Revenue”; TheBalance.com; updated January 21, 2020; webpage accessed February 1, 2020; https://www.thebalance.com/current-u-s-federal-government-tax-revenue-3305762

[13] "How much revenue has the U.S. government collected this year?"; Treasury.gov; webpage accessed May 16, 2023; https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/government-revenue/

NOTE:

This article was originally submitted to Google Blogger on February 1, 2020 and was virtually identical to one submitted earlier the same day to Craft News Report, a website operated by the author’s friend Paul Craft.

This article was revised and updated on May 16, 2023.   

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