Dec 16, 2022·edited Dec 16, 2022Liked by Kathleen Sykes
It is obvious that the idea of free speech absolutism is not practical, at least not in today's climate. Elon Musk is a genius, and is arguably as benevolent as any wealthy person in recent memory. He is now learning on a very personal level the trials that anyone involved with the realm of politics must endure. Who can blame him for lashing out when one of his children is threatened?
Will our society force agents for positive change to become recluses? Will his entire family have to become recluses? Do we want agents for positive change to be treated in this manner?
I'm inclined to give Mr. Musk time to sort out the mechanics of offering what could be a modern version of the old Roman Forum, where serious issues can be debated freely without fear of being physically harmed. There are surely forces and groups which do not want their dirty laundry to be aired, and some will stop at nothing to fight against our right to speak out.
Freedom of speech was one of the hallmarks of liberals when I was a young Wizard. I was a Liberal and I was there among them in the anti-war and civil rights movements.
The grass roots movements of my day were abducted by the Democrat Party, and today its agents make a hobby (or career) of protesting just about any matter, regardless of the effect on society as a whole. There will always be singular events of someone's rights being limited in some way by local authority all the way up to the federal level. In general we are the most liberated people on the planet. Yes there are flaws affecting select individuals from time to time, but today's Democrats seem to be throwing out the baby with the bath water.
When "activist" becomes a job description there is something wrong. True protest grows from a grass roots level, not from some organization which in most cases becomes corrupted via empowerment. Today we have seen activism devolved to its agents stalking and threatening the children of people on "the other side" of an issue. Especially the most successful agents of change.
Having seen the damaging effects of far left practices, (such as this attack on a child) my views evolved toward a more libertarian philosophy of governance. Growing up and having a family brought me maturity. That maturity I see lacking in the current form of the Democrat Party.
I had no clue why Musk was buying a company which has never generated a profit and may not ever be profitable. Today both his genius and his conscientious practice are evident once again.
The courts refused to hear cases of election interference because they are afraid of the repercussions of any ruling. Any decision would surely have drawn backlash from one side or the other. Some of the Supreme Court Justices own lives have been threatened similarly to the attack on Musk's son. The election was another case of "too big to fail". The result either way would be catastrophe.
Seeing that the courts would not give the evidence a proper legal hearing, Elon Musk has outright purchased a large packet of the evidence by purchasing twitter and is now revealing publicly what the courts could not bear to look at. It's a hugely benevolent act. I'm not sure if at the time he was aware that he would be putting himself and his family at risk of bodily injury or death, but he surely is now. It may take some time for him to sort that out. I hope he can. The Supreme court, also under threat, abdicated its duty and the result is that the people are taking the law into their own hands. This is what happens when you refuse to hear and properly adjudicate such serious matters.
Many of us, including myself, are relishing the airing of this dirty laundry. It's an indictment of all of media and well deserved. Trump in his crude way opened the door with his childish name calling of "fake news". This fact is something any intelligent person has seen for at least 50 years, but had never seen expressed so boldly before. Musk is doing the same thing in a more adult and intelligent way. He bought the evidence and is revealing it publicly. It's even sprinkled with humor at times in the midst of threats to his life. If more people had such a sense of humor in stressful times, the world would indeed be a better place.
P.S. to touch on another point Kathleen, "Don’t ask me how this law was enforced. Although Amazon is getting close, as of 2022, no one has yet invented mind-reading technology." You are blind if you cannot see that unless you have taken precautions, your phone automatically transcribes your telephone conversation via Google or other parties, which then sells information about your interests to vendors. Yes, big tech is reading your mind via your conversations. Musk has also spoken publicly about the danger of Artificial Intelligence, but most people don't have a clue of the scope of this issue.
The way we politically divide our trust is now causing many people to ignore a sincere and factual warning from a person with deep knowledge of the subject, because he is "on the opposing side". We do this at our own peril.
daww thanks for the shoutout!
It is obvious that the idea of free speech absolutism is not practical, at least not in today's climate. Elon Musk is a genius, and is arguably as benevolent as any wealthy person in recent memory. He is now learning on a very personal level the trials that anyone involved with the realm of politics must endure. Who can blame him for lashing out when one of his children is threatened?
Will our society force agents for positive change to become recluses? Will his entire family have to become recluses? Do we want agents for positive change to be treated in this manner?
I'm inclined to give Mr. Musk time to sort out the mechanics of offering what could be a modern version of the old Roman Forum, where serious issues can be debated freely without fear of being physically harmed. There are surely forces and groups which do not want their dirty laundry to be aired, and some will stop at nothing to fight against our right to speak out.
Freedom of speech was one of the hallmarks of liberals when I was a young Wizard. I was a Liberal and I was there among them in the anti-war and civil rights movements.
The grass roots movements of my day were abducted by the Democrat Party, and today its agents make a hobby (or career) of protesting just about any matter, regardless of the effect on society as a whole. There will always be singular events of someone's rights being limited in some way by local authority all the way up to the federal level. In general we are the most liberated people on the planet. Yes there are flaws affecting select individuals from time to time, but today's Democrats seem to be throwing out the baby with the bath water.
When "activist" becomes a job description there is something wrong. True protest grows from a grass roots level, not from some organization which in most cases becomes corrupted via empowerment. Today we have seen activism devolved to its agents stalking and threatening the children of people on "the other side" of an issue. Especially the most successful agents of change.
Having seen the damaging effects of far left practices, (such as this attack on a child) my views evolved toward a more libertarian philosophy of governance. Growing up and having a family brought me maturity. That maturity I see lacking in the current form of the Democrat Party.
I had no clue why Musk was buying a company which has never generated a profit and may not ever be profitable. Today both his genius and his conscientious practice are evident once again.
The courts refused to hear cases of election interference because they are afraid of the repercussions of any ruling. Any decision would surely have drawn backlash from one side or the other. Some of the Supreme Court Justices own lives have been threatened similarly to the attack on Musk's son. The election was another case of "too big to fail". The result either way would be catastrophe.
Seeing that the courts would not give the evidence a proper legal hearing, Elon Musk has outright purchased a large packet of the evidence by purchasing twitter and is now revealing publicly what the courts could not bear to look at. It's a hugely benevolent act. I'm not sure if at the time he was aware that he would be putting himself and his family at risk of bodily injury or death, but he surely is now. It may take some time for him to sort that out. I hope he can. The Supreme court, also under threat, abdicated its duty and the result is that the people are taking the law into their own hands. This is what happens when you refuse to hear and properly adjudicate such serious matters.
Many of us, including myself, are relishing the airing of this dirty laundry. It's an indictment of all of media and well deserved. Trump in his crude way opened the door with his childish name calling of "fake news". This fact is something any intelligent person has seen for at least 50 years, but had never seen expressed so boldly before. Musk is doing the same thing in a more adult and intelligent way. He bought the evidence and is revealing it publicly. It's even sprinkled with humor at times in the midst of threats to his life. If more people had such a sense of humor in stressful times, the world would indeed be a better place.
P.S. to touch on another point Kathleen, "Don’t ask me how this law was enforced. Although Amazon is getting close, as of 2022, no one has yet invented mind-reading technology." You are blind if you cannot see that unless you have taken precautions, your phone automatically transcribes your telephone conversation via Google or other parties, which then sells information about your interests to vendors. Yes, big tech is reading your mind via your conversations. Musk has also spoken publicly about the danger of Artificial Intelligence, but most people don't have a clue of the scope of this issue.
The way we politically divide our trust is now causing many people to ignore a sincere and factual warning from a person with deep knowledge of the subject, because he is "on the opposing side". We do this at our own peril.