Do americans have freedom of speech?

Question

my brother went and lived over there for a year and said that they don't but i don't get why!!!!

Answer 1

Not to the extent intended by our founders and what little we still have is ever shrinking.  With the abandonment of habeas corpus we actually don't have it all.  Anyone could be declared a "terrorist" without specific reason then locked up indefinitely with absolutely no recourse or checks and balances.  In fact without habeas corpus none of our rights are protected.  Apparently as with most other issues of paramount importance few people realize this.  Ask anyone about the details of the last episode of American Idol or their other favorite "distraction" and they have an amazing ability to analyze and process unlimited information in those categories.  What is the quote ..."Those who are willing to sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither"?

Answer 2

Try to oppose anything Bush says at one of his rallies, you will be out side faster than a skunk on fire

Answer 3

99.99% only

Your brother has a freedom to speech about US.

Answer 4

Yes, we have freedom of speech. Freedom of speech means you can't be jailed for stating opinions. It doesn't mean you are free from discrimination by others for your opinions or what you say. You can't get put in jail for cursing out your boss, but you can definitely be fired for it.

Certain types of speech are illegal. Plotting a crime is conspiracy. It's against the law. Threatening somebody with bodily harm is illegal. Slander is illegal(lying about somebody). I don't think slander is a criminal offense. The victim has to sue the slanderer for damages. Speech that serves no legitimate purpose such as shouting "Fire" in a theater when there is not fire is illegal.

A fair point by kinder12. If the government can disappear citizens, they nobody can never really be sure they have freedom of speech. There is a saying:

"If you have to rely on the discretion of a government official to retain your rights, you live in a police state."

Answer 5

Barack Obama and his pastor seem to have it, but Senator Clinton does not. It's who you are that determines it.

Answer 6

No, we don't.  Why?  Political correctness and the unwillingness for holding the elected officials responsible.

EDIT:  Lime...check out:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd...

It is HR bill 1955 and called the "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorist act" and wants to control what people say and think, even on the internet.  Now WHAT were we saying about "Freedom of Speech?"

Answer 7

Uhh as an American i can confidently say that yes we do have freedom of speech..if we didn't, would we have these kinds of associations (yahoo, msn, myspace, etc) running so freely without any monitoring from the govt like in China, Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, etc? They can't even protest there and here we can (as long as we don't do it on someone's personal property)..we can say as much bs as we want about the govt and our president (which many of us do) without any fear.

Answer 8

By their dfinition-Yesss

Answer 9

I've called the president a nitwit and a moron on the YA site and haven't had anyone knocking on my door yet so I guess we still have free speech.  If you don't see me for a while, it just means I have housework to get back to....

Answer 10

If you are a liberal and a democrat you do.Republican Trent Lott wished Strom Thurman( an aging man in favor of segregation in 1950's)happy birthday and was forced to resign.Joe Biden ,a democrat called barrck obamma a clean,articulate black and no one said a word.Basically the press is controlled by liberals and they can say anything they want including shooting the President but if a Conservative says it all h**l breaks loose.

Answer 11

Yes we do have freedom of speech but only when we agree with the Democrats about everything. If you are not Policitally Correct in your speech then NO!

Answer 12

Yes

Answer 13

Yes Americans have freedom of speech. You just have to look at some of the nonsense, and hate filled questions and answers on this web site for proof. If we didn't have of these lunies would be locked up.

Answer 14

we do. i dont know why your brother said that, but we do.:)

Answer 15

We do as of now unless they pass the traitorous bill known as S.1959!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-xf5IQFh...

Answer 16

Yes, we do.  People say all kinds of things about the President and Government and they don't disappear.  People say stupid things on the net and don't disappear.  I can go on public property with signs about the government if I want to. ( I did in earlier years )

Answer 17

Yes, we do have freedom of speech. A lot of people get confused about freedom of speech and what it means. They use things like Bush's approval rating as an example of us not having freedom of speech. They say if we had any say, he would have been impeached. What they don't realize is that we can say whatever we like. It is accountability of our elected officials that is lacking. Another thing people mention is protesters being arrested, people being searched, etc. We still have the right to say anything we want. In these situations, privacy is what we don't have. The fourth amendment is now null and void in the United States. The first amendment is still strong though.

Answer 18

all places say u have freedom of speech but its just an illusion of freedomg of speech

Answer 19

We did have it

But it is slowly being taken away from us

like the girl above me said yes Yahoo or msn etc

she lives in a different world

So yes we do so far to a point but not for long

Hopefully With a new Obama we can get ALL OUR RIGHTS BACK ??????

Answer 20

Yes and No.

The FCC blocks swearing. And anything naughty that our big parental government thinks is scary. The media is controlled by corporate, faceless, blameless entities. You can publish newspapers and such. But you won't get air coverage.

According to World-wide press freedom ratings (Reporters Without Borders) the United States is #48. Behind: Nicaragua, Israel, South Africa, Taiwan, and many other nations. The two highest rated? Norway and Iceland.

Also, the Patriot Act and the Military Commissions Act of 2006 severly cut back freedom of speech. Protests can only occur in government designated "Free Speech Zones", off to the sides of events away from cameras and the media.

Also, the MCA allows the President, and SOLELY the President to decide if someone if an enemy of the state, who would have Habeus Corpus and all legal rights removed and be detained.

But, alas. I am typing this and not being arrested or censorsed. So what is the bottom line?

Air Waves: You aren't free. The companies control them

Newspapers: Censorship and the Associated Press regulate images.

Leaflets: Hand out whatever you like

The Internet: Totally Free. And it should remain so.