> A. Let's not mince words, it hasn't done the US any favours.

It’s done phenomenal favors for centuries. Aside from freedom of speech being very effective for growth in ideas and innovation, it’s prevented National religions, limited press interference, limited censorship.

It’s odd to even hear the idea that it’s a bad thing.

A lot of people prefer stronger government restrictions on certain speech. I don’t “get it” either, but I find a lot of my European colleagues prefer their system over the US system, about as equally strongly as I prefer the US system.

It’s pretty understandable given Europe’s history with inflammatory speech leading to continental war, a process which has been repeating itself ever since the invention of the printing press.

> It’s odd to even hear the idea that it’s a bad thing.

And strikingly illiberal, although both liberals and libertarians tend to agree on most matters of free speech.

For decades, liberals have fought for more freedom of speech, even in grotesque situations[0], and now we throw it all away, because we're suddenly winning?

0. https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-em-defends-kkks-rig...