The positive effect of freedom of speech versus the precarious nature of censorship cannot be overlooked. Both have an effect on economic growth and liberty. Human capital, production, and labor force expansion all contribute to economic growth. Economic freedom includes the rights, protection, and choice for citizens to earn an honest living without government interference. Back-to-back, economic freedom and growth affect the function of society and citizens.
Free Speech vs. Censorship on Creativity and Innovation
Free speech values the exchange of ideas or findings on science, technology, education, and so forth. A discussion without being censored goes without saying. It opens the door to knowledge, reasoning, and understanding of innovation and invention over time. An article by Adam Perkins mentioned that opponents of scientific breakthroughs are not limited to the society that permitted free speech. There would always be endless arguments. The good thing was that it created technological progress over the years.
Censorship, on the other hand, reverses the effect of free speech. It limits the exchange of ideas or discoveries. Open discussion, the expansion of knowledge and understanding, and publishing new findings are limited. The dark side of censorship is not about individuals’ inventions or discoveries that matter. It is about whether inventions and discoveries align with the elite’s ideologies and political views that matter, as it was in the past. Many scientists were suppressed, persecuted, or exiled for their findings during their times due to their viewpoints that did not align with the tyranny’s political views and ideologies. Examples include scholarship, which was outlawed because of its content, as well as interdicting genetics, cybernetics, and other new discoveries.
Free Speech vs. Censorship on Economic Growth
Free speech and economic growth go hand in hand. Assume the economy is booming, the government has good policies to protect the country and its citizens, and businesses have good ethics and values. There are no job scams, outsourced services, or bad policies. Unlimited innovation in the free market creates job and business opportunities for the community. Living standards, household income, population, and public investment and development all increase. The standard of education, services, and products is also rising.This goes along with the expansion of jobs and businesses across many sectors. An article explained how free speech benefits the economy.
Censorship and economic decline go hand in hand. The lack of creativity, invention, and innovation means a lack of progress in technology, science, and so forth. It also implies a scarcity of employment and business opportunities to improve community development. In turn, it has an impact on the quality of life. Unemployment, lifestyle, available services and goods, education, business activities, and level of income would have a negative effect on society. Censorship practices and policies create issues and add to the cost of doing business with other countries. An example is the internet censorship in China that has an impact on global trade, especially the cost.
Free Speech vs. Censorship in Uncovering the Truth
Free speech uncovers misinformation. It gives people the right to know the truth, hoping to prevent the repetition of historical events again. It gives them the right to improve the future for the next generation and the generation after that. In addition, it helps others to recognize what is going on in reality for them to make choices for their family, children, or any medical treatment or adjustment.
Censorship, on the other hand, prevents others from expressing what is misinformed in the news or historical events. Critical thinking, accurate facts, or evidence are thrown out the window. Half-truths and lies are reported in favor of a particular party, such as in the case of Hunter Biden’s laptop and big tech.
Free Speech vs. Censorship on Protecting Economic Liberty
Countries that value free speech have an advantage in their businesses and properties. Business owners can challenge corrupted laws and regulations for the government’s own personal gain or behind their motives. They can join forces to sue to protect their human rights, such as free speech. Judges are there to listen to both sides of the coin to determine the outcome. Examples include arbitrary stipulations on certain artists, freelancers, and businesses earning a living and suppressing their human rights.
Countries that favor censorship have a negative effect on suing the government. Communist countries tend to favor the Marxist theory of classless society. The government controls the vast majority of production and property. There is no competition. Everything is pretty much owned by the public. Business owners have little or no say in how to run their businesses.
Putting Everything Together
The contrast between free speech and censorship is important and cannot be overlooked. The measure of fairness, human rights, truth, justice, and freedom to serve the people is based on whether a society supports free speech or censorship. This is the same for the measure the quality of life, economic growth, freedom, and community development.
Sources:
The Scientific Importance of Free Speech
Free Speech Is Good for the Economy
