More than half of Americans are Afraid to Share Political Beliefs – Environment of Fear

by Mark Angelides

A poll by the CATO Institute has shown that 57% of Americans are afraid (presumably of public reaction) to share their political beliefs. Is this because people have “repugnant beliefs,” or is it because a climate of fear and recrimination has been fostered by the political classes?
The never-ending stream of hate and blame that is poured out on social media, and the complicit MSM who see a direct correlation between outrage and viewing figures, have jointly created an environment where a majority of people can only feel comfortable speaking openly to a select few “close-allies” in their lives. And this is not an accidental occurrence, it is fostered, encouraged, and utilized as a way of ensuring that a real majority opinion can never make it to the forefront of politics.
When people are too scared to say what they really feel even to family members, there is little chance of them being open enough to start calling for political action based on what they believe. This ensures that all candidates that get elected and all conversations are moderated to end up in the “center ground” which, surprise surprise, ends up supporting the prohibition of open speech.
What’s more, 71% of respondents “believe that political correctness has silenced important discussions our society needs to have.” What is noticeable is that 71% means that this is NOT JUST conservatives (or those more closely allied with the right); but it does, in fact, impact most people. So the left is afraid to speak openly, and the right is afraid to speak openly, what does that leave? It leaves just the “centrist” ground where nothing will ever change other than what the elites behind the curtain want to change.
This does not mean that it is only the backroom power-brokers who are responsible for this. It would have been an impossible trick to pull off if we were not ourselves so ready to attack others at their behest. We have been submissive, controlled, and we did it all without batting an eyelid. This could never have happened if we had been brave enough to speak out.
So the answer is obvious, but difficult. We (and I mean people on all parts of the political spectrum) need to be unafraid, speak openly, put out positive messages about what we believe AND back it up with real arguments based on principle and research. If we “kneejerk” every time we catch a dogwhistle, we are not marching to our own tune (was that three metaphors in one?) and the same relentless decline in open speech and liberty will continue. If we are brave and open, we can win it all back.

We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Views:

5 thoughts on “More than half of Americans are Afraid to Share Political Beliefs – Environment of Fear”

  1. Freedom of speech doesn’t really exist anymore — you’ll face consequences if you speak out for Trump as well as if you say Communism was a good idea and the USSR wasn’t all bad. Even plainly telling the truth (“9/11 was an inside job”) can get you into serious trouble.
    They claim to support diversity — but diversity of opinion is only tolerated if the opinion is “Republicans suck, the Clinton-Democrats are great!” or “Democrats suck, the Bush-Republicans are great!” (and actually both of those tolerated opinions are insane, it’s quite obvious that the differences between the Clintons and the Bushes are cosmetic at best. They don’t even try to hide it anymore.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFJYk1qb_9o
    Freedom of speech is an absolute and must not be restricted — not even through “voluntary self-censorship”. We either have freedom of speech or we don’t.
    I couldn’t disagree more with someone saying the Clintons or Bushes are great and we should go ahead and nuke Iran – but they sure have a right to say so. It becomes a problem if they manage to shut down any opinion other than theirs.

    Reply
  2. Fear of what a bunch of aggressive and poorly socialized morons who are bought cheap to carry out the whims of someone like Soros. Or Blacks who think since their ancestors were enslaved by the ancestors of others somehow we owe them more than the welfare, section 8, food stamps and endless other give aways that are there for immigrants, minorities, and never for whites.
    Well I have never been racist but I am sick of this Bullshit. And I fear none of them. Let them get mad if they do not like my beliefs but I will not hold my tongue.
    This society is being allowed to fall apart by the the little wimps and terrified snow flakes. It is pathetic but our doom is our own fault for letting this corruption and political correctness get so far out of hand and holding no one accountable. It has to end and we have to end it.

    Reply
  3. Never cared much about what people think of me. Most think I’m an a$$h0le, and they may be right. I speak the truth, and because of that, I have few friends. But those I have are real friends, and they have my back. I’m at an age where I just don’t care what people think. They don’t pay my bills, feed me, or clean my tookus. So screw them.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to NobodysaysBOO Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.