Libertarianism 101: Your Speech Rights

By Tom Rhodes, 1/4/2018

As long as speech doesn't specifically call for violence, is legally libel, etc. except in exceptional circumstances, as in a state of war, your speech is protected. Prior restraint is an attempt to prevent publication or broadcast of any statement. The Supreme Court consistently rules that prior restraint is unconstitutional. According to multiple Supreme Court rulings, the following are all considered protected speech:

Writing is protected speech.

Speaking is protected speech.

Spending Money is protected speech.

Speaking anonymously is protected speech.

Offensive and hateful words are protected speech.

Joining a group of other Americans to petition the government is also protected speech.

There are no rulings or laws or amendments that say speech must be fair, nice, or approved by society at large. Speech is protected not your feelings, not your ideas, as such:

You have no right to not be offended.

You have no right to be protected from ideas you don't like.

You have no right to have your speech funded by others.

You have no right to stop funding by others of speech you don't approve.

You have no right to silence speech you feel should be classified as "hate speech."

You have no right to initiate violence against others who say things you don't like.

You have no right to shut down or stop others from speaking.

You have no right to force others to stay and listen to your speech.

Your only right to not hear "hate speech," or any other "speech" you don't like, is to walk away, turn the channel, close the web page, etc.