[UncleMeat]

> America's respect for freedom of speech is codified in the constitution

Is it? Where is this implication that the constitution is simultaneously both a legal document and also a list of broad values held by the nation's people?

[refurb]

I mean, it's a founding document? It wouldn't be in there unless there was general agreement it is important?

That's a bit of a silly question.

[UncleMeat]

There are lots of things that I believe to be important for the government but not at all important for other contexts. I suspect that's true for you too.

You probably support democratic control over the government where each citizen gets one vote. But very few Americans support democratic control over private corporations (that would be socialism after all). There are enormous numbers of such examples.

I think it is unreasonable to claim that because the constitution limits the state's ability to restrict speech that Americans believe that other actors should not be able to restrict speech in places where they exhibit control. It certainly could be the case that Americans support free speech more broadly, but it definitely does not follow from just being in the constitution.

[refurb]

I mean, I’m not basing it off the constitution alone, but also the pervasive reference to free speech across American discourse. I mean, some joker will put a giant middle finger on his lawn in defiance of a developer who wants to buy him out and Americans will rally around his right to do so.

The 1st amendment doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

[UncleMeat]

> I’m not basing it off the constitution alone

IMO, this does not come across in the posts I responded to.