I really like and respect Carmack but Sam is completely correct here and Carmack has been insulated from the real world now likely about as long as I've been alive.
Free speech was never meant to cover lies. The founding fathers believed strongly in libel and slander laws (which were seen as more civilized to public dueling, the previous way you punished someone for lying about you.) Since libel and slander have become effectively legal, cancel culture is the only thing left.
If we restore free speech to the pre-Sullivan standard, where truth is always a defense and lies are illegal, I'm fine with Carmack's view.
That would be the Christian approach, even though plenty of people here (including Christians) will likely disagree. Civilization has done better the more we structured laws around the 10 commandments. We can't make simple lying illegal, because the government shouldn't have the power to ban any speech before it occurs, but deceit that causes harm is something long thought of as illegal in western tradition, and those kind of laws should be strengthened. Civil law at the very least. Just like no fault divorce and removal of laws against adultery, making it easy to lie has led to moral decay.
Removing the nonsensical "actual malice" standard would go a long way. The current SCOTUS has indicated it is interested in overturning this, but not on behalf of thought criminals like Jared Taylor or Peter Brimlow.
I really like and respect Carmack but Sam is completely correct here and Carmack has been insulated from the real world now likely about as long as I've been alive.
Free speech was never meant to cover lies. The founding fathers believed strongly in libel and slander laws (which were seen as more civilized to public dueling, the previous way you punished someone for lying about you.) Since libel and slander have become effectively legal, cancel culture is the only thing left.
If we restore free speech to the pre-Sullivan standard, where truth is always a defense and lies are illegal, I'm fine with Carmack's view.
That would be the Christian approach, even though plenty of people here (including Christians) will likely disagree. Civilization has done better the more we structured laws around the 10 commandments. We can't make simple lying illegal, because the government shouldn't have the power to ban any speech before it occurs, but deceit that causes harm is something long thought of as illegal in western tradition, and those kind of laws should be strengthened. Civil law at the very least. Just like no fault divorce and removal of laws against adultery, making it easy to lie has led to moral decay.
Removing the nonsensical "actual malice" standard would go a long way. The current SCOTUS has indicated it is interested in overturning this, but not on behalf of thought criminals like Jared Taylor or Peter Brimlow.
Don't forget the modern option to shop for Judges of your personal persuasion.