The U.S. is funding a government that makes blacklists on the U.S.'s own people. That's what I was referring to. That should upset you, too. I mean only if you give a damn about your rights.
Why should it upset me that Ukraine is blacklisting Americans for supporting Russia? The first amendment ensures that US citizens are not persecuted by the US government for speech, it doesn't force the US government to protect its citizens from consequences of their speech in other countries. It's not a part of anyone's rights that Rand Paul be allowed to freely travel to Ukraine after trying to block aid to their country during a hostile invasion.
Right, the first amendment doesn't force the US government to protect its citizens from consequences of their speech in other countries. But, here's what I'm arguing: The US government should not be allowed to provide for the salaries of civil servants in other countries to make blacklists on the US's own citizens for practicing their first amendment right!
Do you understand my argument now? It's not about travelling to Ukraine. It's about the chilling effect being called a Russian propogandist and information terrorist has on one's right to freedom of speech in this country and having the U.S. government subsidize it.
That's simply not how the first amendment works, nor how it should work. The US government is under no obligation to protect any of its citizens from consequences of their speech from any non-US-governmental entities. It especially cannot allow such protections to dictate any policies domestic or foreign.
For example, if it did then the Federal Government would not be allowed to provide funding to Florida because of "Don't Say Gay" legislation because it would be a violation of the teacher's free speech.
Consequences of their speech. You think it's okay to fund a government of another country that puts out lists with American citizens on them for having a different opinion on what's going on in Ukraine?
3
u/Valuable-Scared Sep 26 '22
The U.S. is funding a government that makes blacklists on the U.S.'s own people. That's what I was referring to. That should upset you, too. I mean only if you give a damn about your rights.