Based Underground is now a conservative news aggregator AND curated newsletter.
(WND News Center)—Free speech fights are becoming more and more common these days, as social media play a growing role in people’s lives and the leftist corporate owners insist more and more that only their views should be allowed to be disseminated to the public.
Even Joe Biden’s administration tried to use public money to set up what was described as essentially the same as the “Ministry of Truth” found in the dystopian novel “1984.”
The result isn’t good, according to a new poll, which reveals only 1 in 4 Americans think their right to free speech is secure, and more than two-thirds say the nation’s trajectory on free speech is going the wrong way.
The poll is from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and the Polarization Research Lab.
When asked about “whether people are able to freely express their views,” 69% of respondents said things in America are heading in the wrong direction, compared to only 31% who believe that things are heading in the “right direction,” the polling revealed.
Almost one-third of the respondents, 29%, said free speech is not at all secure.
“The average American already thinks that free speech in America is in dire straits. Most worryingly, they think it will get worse,” said FIRE chief research Adviser Sean Stevens. “These findings should be a wake-up call for the nation to recommit to a vibrant free speech culture before it’s too late.”
The poll was done Jan. 12-19 and FIRE said it is the first installment of a National Speech Index, a new quarterly survey intended to measure support for the First Amendment.
“Polarization not only divides Americans on policy, but it fractures our assessments of the stability of the bedrock features of our democracy,” said PRL Director Sean Westwood. “Nearly half of Democrats think free speech rights are headed in the right direction, compared to only 26 percent of Republicans. And more than a third of Republicans think the right to free speech is not secure, compared to only 17 percent of Democrats.”
The groups reported, “One alarmingly common belief that crosses partisan lines is that idea that the First Amendment ‘goes too far in the rights it guarantees.’ Around a third of Republicans and a third of Democrats ‘completely’ or ‘mostly’ agree with that statement. ”
Don’t wait for a stock market crash, dedollarization, or CBDCs before securing your retirement with physical precious metals. Genesis Gold Group can help.
The survey proposed several statements that, though offensive to some, are protected by the First Amendment.
“Roughly half of respondents (52%) said their community should not allow a public speech that espouses the belief they selected as the most offensive. A supermajority, 69%, said their local college should not allow a professor who espoused that belief to teach classes,” the report said.
Stevens said the results were not surprising, but were disappointing.
“Here at FIRE, we’ve long observed that many people who say they’re concerned about free speech waver when it comes to beliefs they personally find offensive. But the best way to protect your speech in the future is to defend the right to controversial and offensive speech today.”
For 25 years, WND has boldly brought you the news that really matters. If you appreciate our Christian journalists and their uniquely truthful reporting and analysis, please help us by becoming a WND Insider!
Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].
SUPPORT TRUTHFUL JOURNALISM. MAKE A DONATION TO THE NONPROFIT WND NEWS CENTER. THANK YOU!
This article was originally published by the WND News Center.
Confirmed: The Haitian Invaders Are Eating Geese in Ohio
by Townhall
Springfield, Ohio, is now on the frontlines of the immigration wars. The city, awash with tens of thousands of Haitian migrants, has become the center of national attention after stories of pets, geese, and ducks. It’s triggered liberals to no end, with CNN hosts and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) blowing…
“I Was Duped by the Media”: Bishop Apologizes for Closing Churches During Covid
by Caldron Pool
“I was duped by the media hype and should have been stronger.” A US Catholic Bishop has apologized for closing churches during COVID, admitting he was “duped by the media.” Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, made the admission on X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week, in response to a…
Another Top NYC Official With Ties to NYPD, Eric Adams Accused of Chinese Spying
by Headline USA
A little over a week after a former top aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was arrested for spying on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party, another New York government employee was found to have close ties to the CCP. Lin Gui’an, the assistant director of the New York…
Late-Term Abortion: 5 Facts Harris, Liberal Media Want to Conceal
by Melanie Israel, DeVos Center
(Daily Signal)—Predictably, the issue of abortion was one of the first to come up during Tuesday night’s presidential debate on ABC. And predictably, both the moderators and Vice President Kamala Harris wouldn’t let pesky facts get in the way of their shared agenda. Harris refused to identify a single limit on abortion…
Faith-Driven Gold IRA Company Reveals Three Secrets About Americans’ Retirement
by Sponsored Post
The precious metals industry has developed a rough reputation over the last couple of years, especially as it pertains to retirement accounts. With all of the angst many Americans are feeling about the economy, gold companies have pounced on the opportunity to take advantage of people’s fears. One company stands…
Father of Boy Killed by Haitian in Springfield Says He Wishes Son ‘Was Killed by 60-Year-Old White Man’
by Daily Wire
The father of an 11-year-old boy who was killed by a Haitian immigrant in Springfield, Ohio, said during a city commission meeting on Tuesday that he wishes his son was instead killed by an “old white man.” Aiden Clark was killed in August 2023, when a Haitian immigrant, Hermanio Joseph,…
LA Times Reporter Reveals ‘Climate Anxiety’ and Calls to ‘Fix Individualism’ to Save the Planet
by Free Beacon
The Los Angeles Times published a sprawling essay Wednesday written by environmental reporter Rosanna Xia, who expressed overwhelming grief about the prospect of climate change and called to “fix individualism” and “reimagine” society’s “systems” to address climate change. “How do you cope? I feel the sorrow, the quiet plea for…
DOJ Immigration Attorney: Biden Has Authority to End Illegal Immigration, but Democrat Megadonors Control Border Agenda
by The Gateway Pundit
Christian Cooper, a Special Assistant on Immigration Litigation U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Department of Justice said on undercover video: Joe Biden has the authority to end illegal immigration but Democrat megadonors control the immigration agenda. “We’re Completely Controlled by Special Interests Above,” Christian Cooper said. Per Project Veritas: President…
Iran Wants China-Led BRICS to Create a New World ‘Security Structure’
by Breitbart
Ali Akbar Ahmadian, secretary-general of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) of Iran, on Wednesday called for the China-dominated BRICS economic group to create “a new security structure in the international arena to help the order and security of the future world.” Speaking at a BRICS forum in St. Petersburg,…
Chemtrails Are No Longer a “Conspiracy Theory” as Globalists Openly Call It an Essential Part of Their Battle Against “Climate Change”
by S.D. Wells, Natural News
(Natural News)—The Communist-Democrat politicians in Washington DC and their globalist cohorts are engaged in a multi-faceted agenda rooted in profound deceit. Using extreme censorship of anyone who questions their agenda, they’ve (literally) gotten away with murder using schemes, plots and propaganda to further their goals of obtaining complete control of…
Crowd Backs Trump as He Comes Face-to-Face with Kamala Harris at 9/11 Memorial
by Western Journal
As dignitaries gathered for this year’s Ground Zero memorial service to honor those killed in the 9/11 attacks and remind American of the cost of terrorism, one man stood out for the New York City crowd. “Donald!” voices in the crowd began calling as former President Donald Trump was spotted…
Judge Dismisses Georgia Election Official’s Plea for Protection to Do Her Job After Dem Lawfare Threats
by The Federalist
A Georgia judge dismissed a plea from a Fulton County election official who asked the court to confirm she is not obligated to rubber-stamp election results after Democrats threatened her with criminal charges. Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections (FCBRE) member Julie Adams filed a suit in May seeking…
“Our Town Is a Time Bomb” – Springfield Locals on the Haitian Crisis Destroying Their City
by Infowars
Turning Point USA’s “Frontlines” journalists hit the streets of Springfield, Ohio, to learn more about the story taking the nation by storm and causing Americans to debate the illegal immigration emergency. 20,000 Haitian “migrants” have flooded the small town of around 58,000 people since the Biden-Harris administration started flying them…
Russia Says It Could “Combine” With China if They Faced a Threat
by End Times Headlines
Russia said on Wednesday that its partnership with China was not aimed against third countries but the two powers could “combine potential” if faced with a threat from the United States. “I would like to remind you that Moscow and Beijing will respond to ‘double containment’ by the United States…
Comrade Kamala Embraced Fossil Fuels on the Debate Stage, but What Does Her Record Say?
by NIck Pope, Daily Caller News Foundation
(DCNF)—Vice President Kamala Harris purported to be in favor of fossil fuels on the debate stage on Tuesday night, but several of her talking points lacked key context or were contradicted by her record in the Biden administration. The vice president reiterated on the debate stage that she no longer…
Time Magazine Forced to Make Huge Retraction After Spewing Debate Lie
by Trending Politics
Time Magazine has been forced to issue a public retraction following the publication of a highly contentious statement mischaracterizing a claim made by former President Donald Trump during Tuesday night’s debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. The statement, which accused Trump of fabricating an assertion about Harris supporting taxpayer-funded transgender…
