Kaufman/Bruening
Freedom of speech has been a long-debated issue. Throughout history, it has been proven many times that when freedom of speech begins to diminish, rights and a country's foundations can crumble, leading to a society no longer governed by the people. Interestingly, “A staggering 74% of Americans in the October edition of the NSI responded that things are headed in the wrong direction for free speech” (https://fsnn.net/most-americans-think-free-speech-is-on-the-decline-survey-finds/).
The problem Americans seem worried about is not what people say, but rather the actions taken in response to what is said. One of the biggest challenges Americans face today is violence in response to things that have been said.
Our stance. When viewed through a biblical perspective, the reason why is clear. If a person bases their identity on ideas they support or stances they take, because they’ve based their identity on an idea, when people say that idea is wrong, it feels like an attack on their identity. Americans are having an identity crisis; people don’t know where to base their identity anymore, and the results of this can be seen everywhere, from the way that hate speech online presents other humans as less than to the idea that it's okay to threaten other people if they disagree with you.
This is why it's so important for Christians to base their identity in Christ. When people disagree with how we think or what we support, it's okay because it's not a direct attack on who we are. Who we are is rooted in Christ, and nothing anyone says can change that.
Our plan. Many solutions have been suggested as to how to fix the problem of hate speech, extremism, and threats we see online. This is a very sensitive issue, though, because limiting such speech can easily slip into censorship. While candidates Kaufman and Bruening believe that free speech is the cornerstone of a free society, that does not give people the right to cause harm or inhibit the freedoms and rights of others. In that form, the candidates believe that it is the government's responsibility to prevent harmful rhetoric, such as extremism and threats, to protect its citizens and uphold a safe, productive society with high standards.
The Kaufman/Bruening ticket’s plan is to establish a partnership between the government and the people to address misinformation and lies. When lies or misinformation are shared, the government will present its perspective but ultimately encourage the people to do their own research into the information presented. Counterspeech is an effective solution to misinformation; it encourages the sharing of a different perspective grounded in logical evidence (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterspeech). For Christians, this is speaking the truth in love. Acts 17 is also a good example of counterspeech. The government should also encourage the media to cover multiple angles of an issue and provide easy access to information for American citizens.
However, when threats or extremism infringe on the rights of other individuals, the government should take action. We believe that ‘“Speech can only be limited if it is “directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action” and if it is “likely to incite or produce such action.”’ (https://www.freedomforum.org/clear-and-present-danger-test/). If that is the case, then it is the government’s job to investigate the individual who said such things, and take action if necessary.
Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of a free society. As tensions heighten and fear and hate grow, it is up to us to figure out how to protect it. Join us in the fight for freedom, because Freedom Lives Here.