[marcusverus]

> "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.-- That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

We don't need the government to govern free speech, but defending our rights is the reason the United States government exists, according to the men who created it.

[dmwallin]

It’s also abundantly clear that the men that founded our government believed that some powers are reserved for individuals and not for governments. The ability to restrict speech is one of these.

> “ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

[tpoacher]

You're saying people in power having the ability to censor free speech is free speech in itself? Uh, ok. Interesting.