ABIN Summaries for “The Left Needs Free Speech” and “The First Amendment Is Out of Control”
Student Name
Institution
Course:
December 19, 2024
Summary #3: “The Left Needs Free Speech”
In “The Left Needs Free Speech”, Pollitt argues that free speech is important to progressive causes as it helps them push for change against the powerful. She also notes that the latest leftist movements, which advocate censorship while having good intentions, threaten the right of oppressed minorities to be heard and to express their needs and wants. According to Pollitt, social justice struggles for civil rights, women’s liberation and labor have all used speech freedom to challenge power. She argues that failure to uphold this principle might compromise the progressive objectives related to social justice and calls for the preservation of dialogue.
Summary #4: “The First Amendment Is Out of Control”
Based on the article, “The First Amendment is Out of Control” by Tim Wu is valid as it highlights various incidents where freedom of speech was abused in the United States., Tim Wu critiques the increasingly broad interpretations of First Amendment protections, which he argues often prioritize corporate interests over public welfare. Wu goes further to argue that firms, which include social media companies, abuse free speech protections to conceal algorithms and avoid regulations. He points to this as creating an unequal relationship where these actors gain while undermining democracy and the welfare of society. In the end, Wu pushes for a reformist approach by arguing for a reformist perspective of the First Amendment and freedom of speech that embraces the limited responsibility and accountability of the masses and communities alongside embracing the freedom of individuals.
References
Wu, T. (2024). The First Amendment Is Out of Control. The New York Times. Retrieved from
Pollitt, K. (2021). The Left Needs Free Speech. Dissent Magazine. Retrieved from
