The State of Free Speech and Tolerance in America

by | Nov 3, 2017

The State of Free Speech and Tolerance in America

by | Nov 3, 2017

Americans Say Political Correctness Has Silenced Discussions Society Needs to Have; Most Have Views They’re Afraid to Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Buffer
Nearly three-fourths (71%) of Americans believe that political correctness has done more to silence important discussions our society needs to have. A little more than a quarter (28%) instead believe that political correctness has done more to help people avoid offending others.

The consequences are personal-58% of Americans believe the political climate today prevents them from saying things they believe. Democrats are unique, however, in that a slim majority (53%) do not feel the need to self-censor. Conversely, strong majorities of Republicans (73%) and independents (58%) say they keep some political beliefs to themselves.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Buffer

Americans Oppose Hate Speech Bans but Say Hate Speech Is Morally Unacceptable

Most Americans (59%) think people should be allowed to express unpopular opinions in public, even those deeply offensive to other people. Forty percent (40%) think government should prevent hate speech in public. Nonetheless, an overwhelming majority (79%) agree that it is “morally unacceptable” to engage in hate speech against racial or religious groups. Thus, the public appears to distinguish between allowing offensive speech and endorsing it.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Buffer

Despite this, the survey also found Americans willing to censor, regulate, or punish a wide variety of speech and expression they personally find offensive:

    • 51% of strong liberals say it’s “morally acceptable” to punch Nazis.
    • 53% of Republicans favor stripping U.S. citizenship from people who burn the American flag.
    • 51% of Democrats support a law that requires Americans use transgender people’s preferred gender pronouns.
    • 47% of Republicans favor bans on building new mosques.
    • 58% of Democrats say employers should punish employees for offensive Facebook posts.
    • 65% of Republicans say NFL players should be fired if they refuse to stand for the national anthem.

Read the rest at the Cato Institute here.

About Emily Ekins

Our Books

9 libooksjuly2023sm

Related Articles

Related

Let’s Start Minding Our Own Business

Let’s Start Minding Our Own Business

I look at this country and I see too many veterans unable to reenter society because of their trauma from fighting these endless wars. I look at this country and I see political prisoners like Julian Assange locked up for practicing honest journalism. I look at this...

read more
Yeah, It Was (Mostly) the Fed’s Fault

Yeah, It Was (Mostly) the Fed’s Fault

A not uncommon reaction from central bank defenders in response to criticism is some form of an apology, arguing a lesser of two evils choice. Posing a counterfactual, they present a scenario, say the East Asian Crisis or subsequent Subprime Crisis, which it is then...

read more
Don’t Tread on Homeschoolers

Don’t Tread on Homeschoolers

A 12-year-old Colorado boy became a victim of “woke” education when he was taken out of class and told he could not return unless he removed a Gadsden flag, or “Don’t Tread on Me,” patch from his backpack. The school backed down after a video went viral in which a...

read more
Goldfish in Chief

Goldfish in Chief

Former U.S. President Barack Obama recently put out a tweet with a link to organizations that may be of some help to the people of Libya due to recent floods. NATO was absent from the list. Whoever runs the former president's social media is likely unaware why some...

read more

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This