• itsgoodtobeawake@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    You mean freedom of speech… That’s what you’re saying is not an important value? The freedom to speak truth to power without the goon squad kicking down your door? Clearly that is being eroded in the US right now, but China certainly doesn’t have it.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      24 hours ago

      You mean freedom of speech…

      I mean “posting online”.

      The freedom to speak truth to power without the goon squad kicking down your door?

      Has never existed in a practical sense within the United States. Not under Bush. Not under Eisenhower. Not under Woodrow Wilson. Not under James Buchanan. Not under John Adams.

      Americans have a long and storied history of arresting outspoken dissidents, assaulting them, and disappearing anyone who persisted.

      Clearly that is being eroded in the US right now

      We have more political prisoners in jail today than China has had since the end of the colonial era.

    • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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      1 day ago

      China has it for the working class. Capitalist speech and misinformation are targeted, but the working class is largely free to say what they want.

      • itsgoodtobeawake@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        It doesn’t exist, how is that hard to admit for you? Freedom of speech is intended to protect exactly the kind of speech you disagree with, otherwise it’s not a thing. “Largely free” = NOT FREE

        • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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          1 day ago

          Then nowhere has freedom of speech. True freedom of speech only exists for the ruling class of society, and the speech of those other classes oppressed by them that agree with the ruling class. In the US Empire, freedom of speech only truly exists for capitalists. In the PRC, it’s the opposite, it only exists for the working class, and those who do not oppose the working class.