Support Reason To Support Free Speech and Open Debate
Reason‘s 17th annual Webathon is just about over. But it’s not too late to give!
So before this once-a-year give-us-your-money party concludes, I want to make one more appeal: Give us your money, because Reason will always stand on the side of open debate and free speech.Â
Over the last decade, Americans have seen a notable degradation in the culture of free speech, especially online.Â
The desire to shut down speech isn’t limited to one party or side. From campus shout-downs to online cancellations to social media shadow bans and various forms of demonetization, our cultural and political discourse has been overtaken by self-appointed censors who think that the best way to promote good speech is by stopping others from saying what they believe. Somehow, we’ve even gotten to the point where some people think it’s a mistake for journalists to interview politicians with beliefs they find objectionable.Â
Often this impulse has been justified on the grounds that the speech in question is hateful, impolitic, or part of a campaign of mis- or disinformation. The censors insist that it’s not really censorship, because it’s for the public good.Â
The problem is that censorship doesn’t stop bad speech, it just pushes it into the shadows. It’s a form of prohibition, and it creates what is essentially a black market for ideas. In the process, it fuels demand for ideas that have been labeled dangerous, sometimes with ugly results. Censorship paves the way to distrust, institutional decay, and social unrest.Â
At Reason, in contrast, we believe that the best way to respond to bad speech is with more speech—with argument, with persuasion, with humor, with evidence, with civil but forceful debate about the big ideas that define our world.Â
When you support Reason, you support free speech, open debate, the politics of persuasion—and even, now and then, some feisty arguments.Â
We believe in the value of debate so much that later this month we are starting a brand! New! Debate series!
It’s called Reason Versus.
Reason Versus is a live, in-person, butts-in-seats debate series that pits Reason against other organizations on big ideas that divide u
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The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.
