We’re hearing rumblings from the left and from Trump and associated crazies about Facebook’s banning Alex Jones, Laura Loomer, Louis Farrakhan, Milo Yiannopoulos, and other sociopaths from its facilities. This is viewed by some as a blow or, at least, a menace to freedom of speech.

I think there is here an underlying assumption that freedom of speech implies a guarantee of audience. Now no one can stop me from going into Kirkwood Park, setting up a soapbox, and denouncing Monothelitism vehemently and at length, but I think that only a substantial cash incentive could provide me with an audience.

The worst threat to freedom of speech these days is that society allows semi-criminal rabble rousers such free access. It is virtually routine for totalitarian movements to subvert and destroy democracy by exploiting the freedoms that democracy guarantees.

I cannot propose an answer to the dilemma that this presents, but I can say that unless our democracy finds a way to obviate or moderate the voices of hate-mongering and uninhibited deceit in the public sphere, they will tear us apart.