Specifically Speech They Don't Like
Please follow us on Gab, Minds, Telegram, Rumble, Truth Social, Gettr, Twitter
It seems that every year the Maryland Legislature works to outdo the State of California in passing incredibly stupid laws. It's so bad that they have even adopted a law that follows a California law to "save the environment," Maryland will follow those measures as well. It reminds us of the old song, "Anything you can do, I can do better." Or maybe, in this case, worse.
But they are not done yet. Now state Democrats have turned their collective eyes to parts of Europe in order to outlaw free speech like the Europeans have. Here's an example of what we might look forward to here in Maryland if Democrats have their way:
As Europeans are arrested for what they say, how ‘free’ is Europe’s speech? - Brussels Signal
Does Europe Have a Free Speech Problem? - Newsweek
Now wishing to be outdone by Europe and certainly trying to quiet any speech he doesn't like, Delegate Joe Vogel, Democrat, Montgomery County, sponsored HB 1452 and labeled it the "Hate Crimes and Hate Bias - Definitions of Sexual Orientation and Hate Bias Incident" bill. Here is the bill:
Pay particular attention to this section:
The very first sentence concerns " slurs, name calling, and insults" that could be posted anywhere, even electronically or online. The actual "insults" are open to interpretation. In Europe, that would include calling a person "fat" on social media.
This law sounds like:
Policing the internet in Germany, where hate speech, insults are a crime | 60 Minutes - CBS News
So you know who the person is sponsoring this bill, here is a link to Delegate Vogel's profile:
Here is more information about him:
Gen Z delegate Joe Vogel hits the ground running with 10 new bills
No surprise that he is from Montgomery County.
What's interesting about Delegate Vogel is that he seems to have been intent on suppressing free speech since he came into office. No doubt Vogel, like many Democrats of his generation, doesn't understand the true nature of free speech. When they think of free speech, it's a sanitized version of speech that they agree with or doesn't offend their sensibilities. So, if someone hurls an insult at someone else, Vogel will want to be able to report it to the State Police for investigation. Free speech, as many of us know, can be messy and offensive at times. Vogel wants it to be illegal.
Wish I had known that during all these years when I have been called vile names by the left. I chalked it up to the unpleasant part of freedom as long as someone wasn't threatening me with harm or slandering me. Under Vogel's law, I could report a former friend of mine whose recent email screed to me was so insulting and awful that it prompted me to block them from ANY more contact. We had gotten along quite well for a long time, but they hated and insulted me now because of my political beliefs and something I wrote in an article. They also sent the email to my associates. The rage at me seemed to worsen after the election.
The founders gave us the right to unlimited free speech in the Constitution. Court cases regarding the 1st Amendment have, for the most part, upheld all kinds of speech. Here are some examples of speech that are NOT considered free speech under the 1st Amendment:
Conversely, hate speech often remains protected despite being offensive. The U.S. legal system defends vigorous debate, even if the speech offends. However, hate speech that becomes incitement, threats, or harassment can lose protection1.
After the email, I just decided they were no longer a friend and left it at that. It's how most adults operated in the real world during my lifetime. I certainly would never file a criminal complaint against that person.
Vogel's not the only one wanting to silence critical voices.
Maryland's Governor Wes Moore seems to be grossly upset by free speech also. He and his supporters are now complaining about an online group/website called "Nomoore.org":
Democrats want 'shadowy' anti-Moore group investigated - Maryland Matters
You can tell Maryland Matters doesn't like them either. They call them "shadowy."
Here is a link to the website:
Here's a post on Facebook from this group:
There is nothing untrue in the post. There is nothing inflammatory in it. There's no name calling in the post. We can't attest to the comments made on the post. But Governor Moore and Democrats want to file election violation charges.
This is one Moore probably hates:
Hopefully, things will get better. In the following article, FEDERALIST writer Pax Dickinson creates a timeline of incidents where free speech got people "canceled" or "fired" and how that trend seems to be ending:
The Trump Administration Just Canceled Cancel Culture
In the last two paragraphs of his article, Dickinson shows that things are changing after Trump officials stood up for an employee and rehired him after he was "canceled":
The media hall monitors now stand slack-jawed at the sight of their majestic cancellation machine spewing smoke, spitting gears, and shuddering to a halt. All it took was a firm “no” from those in charge of hiring and firing people. They have finally put their collective foot down and said “No more.” By themselves the activists and journalists whipping up outrage have no power; it was only fear of shaming that made some do their bidding.
It remains to be seen if cancellation will remain a force in American life, but this is the first shovelful of dirt onto its coffin, and I for one am incredibly grateful to be here to see it. Let’s hope it can be buried for good, and the climate of fear ended once and for all.
Let's hope Dickenson is correct.
SOURCES:
1.Free Speech vs. Hate Speech – U.S. Constitution.net
NOTES:
*It's ironic that Maryland has pushed so hard for people to buy electric vehicles and hybrids, but now wishes to add an extra tax per mile on those vehicles.
