Comment by MangoToupe

> It is demonstrably a meaningful term given that it has prevented the imprisonment of countless people who have been unfriendly towards the state or other powers that be at various times in our history.

You can just say "first amendment protections" rather than the disingenuous "free speech"

> Not sure what you're getting at here, but it doesn't matter whether it's "necessary" for anything. It's in the Constitution. If you want to debate changing the Constitution you can go ahead and do that, but I won't spend my time engaging with it.

You were the person that identified free speech as a reason for western dominance. I'm saying it doesn't appear to be related at all.

> is literally benefiting you right now. You're aware that these very comments, in a regime with weaker protections, would put you at risk

I don't give a damn. No amount of free speech will help the homeless, so fuck it. Let's get real rights in this country. All americans do is complain and complain and complain, so I see it as a marker of american complacency that they don't actually want anything to improve.