Live data from Hacker News

How each pillar of the First Amendment is under attack

krebsonsecurity.com

121–130 of 994 posts

Re: How each pillar of the First Amendment is under attack

#121

[flagged]

Government censors and preferential treatment are no match for a social network deciding what to allow on their platforms. Not even close. One is a free market and free association (you know there are many alternative platforms these days?). The other is serfdom.

Don't pretend the government didn't use its power and influence to pressure ostensibly private social networks to censor true information and sincerely held opinions.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/zuckerberg-says-the-wh...

Re: How each pillar of the First Amendment is under attack

#122
This is a really good compilation that should make any "free-speech absolutist" reconsider their support for the current administration.

In my understanding, the commonplace interpretation of the first amendment is largely due to a series of landmark cases through the early to mid-20th century. A lot of expansions were provided to the amendment that have been taken for granted since then and we are now going to see challenged. We'll see how many hold in due time but I wouldn't put good odds on it.

Re: How each pillar of the First Amendment is under attack

#123
post #100

As a person who lived in the States for a bit, and listened to a lot of news, I remember always this almost fawning over the Founding Fathers, checks and balances and great American constitution. It is remarkable, how easy it all goes, and most people don't do anything (i.e. out of 100 top law firms, only a handful joined the lawsuit against the government, etc.)

The people fawning and the people rejecting the Founders' intentions are two separate groups of people. Media is the practice of including and excluding voices, and there are distinct trends over time of representing one or another set of voices.

> The people fawning and the people rejecting the Founders' intentions are two separate groups of people.

The same people supporting Trump, from national thought leaders like Heritage and the Federalist society, to Murdoch publications (Fos, WSJ), to everyday people on social media have long pushed hard for expanded Second Amendment rights, expended freedom of religion which outweighs all other considerations and rights, and freedom of speech, etc. for right-wing hate speech (including their focus on social media moderation) - just as examples.

Re: How each pillar of the First Amendment is under attack

#124
post #8

If Trump wins the next election, take that as the signal of the point of no return. It happened to Rome, it can happen to America.

He can't run again.

He's stated he is contemplating getting Vance to run, then for Vance to step down in favor of Trump.

> Trump, 78, said in the interview that he was serious about seeking a third term in office.

> "A lot of people want me to do it," Trump said, according to NBC News. "But we have – my thinking is, we have a long way to go. I'm focused on the current."

> When asked about specific plans for seeking a third term, Trump confirmed one method — Vice President JD Vance wins the White House in a future election and then hands over the presidency. Trump said there were other plans, but he refused to say what they wer

https://www.npr.org/2025/03/30/g-s1-57231/trump-third-term

Re: How each pillar of the First Amendment is under attack

#125
post #5
post #3

I understand why these things have to be posted, but I would be lying if I said that I wasn't utterly exhausted by the constant shit that the Trump administration is spitting at us. I mean, I get it, bad shit needs to be reported on, the Trump admin does a lot of bad shit, it makes sense, but it's just extremely tiring. I know that's kind of the point, to bombard us with all this shit all at once so that we are exhau…

Voting is the minimum of civic duty, not the maximum.

Voting is not a civic duty. I have every right NOT to vote. It's my voice and I can use it as I please. Forcing me into a ballot box to pick between two awful choices is not civilized.

Re: How each pillar of the First Amendment is under attack

#126
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He can be VP and then succeed by the president stepping down.

The 12th Amendment disagrees: > But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.

But the 22nd amendment forbids being elected to the office more than twice. Eligibility to serve as president may not be the same as eligibility to be elected president.

This would have to be decided by the Supreme Court.

Re: How each pillar of the First Amendment is under attack

#127

Are Democrats constantly in violation of the constitution, and openly hostile to the first amendment? Yes. Does that make any of this acceptable? No. And a good deal of this is even more concerning.

Can you elaborate? This article is talking about the threats posed by the Trump administration not by the Democrats who have no real power in the federal government at the moment.

Re: How each pillar of the First Amendment is under attack

#128

I thought this country was founded on the principles of enlightenment. And the same principles made it a world leader. Now that enlightenment values are actively being dismantled what next can we expect?

I think it starts with undermining the values: Note the disparagement of freedom, of knowledge, science, and education as ways humans can make their world better - even the idea of making the world better and of truth itself; of the rule of law rather than the rule of power, and the embrace of violence, athletics, etc. Notice the contempt for the enlightenment and embrace of ancient Rome and other sub-democratic or dictatorial government.

I don't think it's accidental; I think people have a plan to bring down institutions, and it's working so far.

Re: How each pillar of the First Amendment is under attack

#129

Are Democrats constantly in violation of the constitution, and openly hostile to the first amendment? Yes. Does that make any of this acceptable? No. And a good deal of this is even more concerning.

What are these violations of the constitution committed by democrats you speak of?

Re: How each pillar of the First Amendment is under attack

#130

As a person who lived in the States for a bit, and listened to a lot of news, I remember always this almost fawning over the Founding Fathers, checks and balances and great American constitution. It is remarkable, how easy it all goes, and most people don't do anything (i.e. out of 100 top law firms, only a handful joined the lawsuit against the government, etc.)

[deleted]
Post reply on HN