Eight Values of Free Expression.

When viewing the First Amendment and the clauses that it is comprised of, we should take into account the true values behind "Free Expression." What does it mean? Where do these ideas come from? All of these questions and concerns about why our government runs the way it does can really be answered when studying the First Amendment and its values. When it is all narrowed down, there comes to be eight major values.

To start it off, there is "Discovery of Truth." This value was first suggested by John Milton, who first said that when truth and falsehood are allowed to freely grapple, truth will win out. His argument is against requiring a license to print or publish. The next value suggests that citizens will not make wise and informed choices in elections if candidates and proponents of certain policies are restricted in their ability to communicate positions. This can be described as "Participation in Self Government." "Stable Change," accredited to Benedict Spinoza, explains how a society in which angry and alienated citizens are allowed to speak their mind, or "vent," will be more stable, as people will be less likely to resort to violence.  It has also been pointed out that allowing the alienated and discontented to speak freely enables government to better monitor potentially dangerous groups who would otherwise act more clandestinely. Ultimately, it is in the governments own self-interest to allow such venting. Another value, that of "Individual Self Fulfillment," promotes the idea that Free speech enables individuals to express themselves and thereby create their own identify — and, in the process perhaps, find kindred spirits. Freedom of speech thus becomes an aspect of human dignity, human agency and autonomy. An important concept to make note of is the Check on Governmental Power. Here, they play sort of a "watchdog role" demonstrating freedom of the press enables citizens to learn about abuses of power — and then do something about the abuse at the ballot box if they feel so moved. We, along with the press, are part of the check-and-balance system to restrains government power and abuse of power. Jack Balkin introduced how a community in which free speech is valued and protected is likely to be a more energized, creative, interesting society as its citizens actively fulfill themselves in many diverse and interesting ways. Lastly, the value of "Promote Dissent" suggests how Our system is not supposed to be one of mob rule. The First Amendment protects minority views, no matter how unpopular. You have a strongly protected right to disagree with the government — and everyone else. In fact, it is your patriotic duty to criticize the government. 

Now, you may have realized that there are only 7 values explained here instead of 8, and that is because I wanted to explain this specific value in great detail because I feel that it is the most important. This value is called “Promote Tolerance.” Promote Tolerance explains how the government does not need all these rules and laws against Free Expression mostly due to the fact that society will do the work for them. The way society is run puts into play the process of people using hate speech or “socially unacceptable” content and the people of America do not hesitate to confront them. This decision to not filter the people makes the government very powerful. People are technically allowed to say whatever they want, which does not make them feel the need to overthrow the government. Although they are allowed to say what they want, they do not always do it in fear of getting “shot down” by society. I feel that this makes America what it is today and really encompasses all the different values into one.