First Amendment

My professional life was spent as a newspaper publisher. I have a great love and respect for our First Amendment to our Constitution guaranteeing our freedom of speech and freedom of the press.  Those freedoms come with responsibilities.  Nothing irritates me more than all of the misinformation and disinformation offered by the many computer platforms and media outlets that are available.  They can be used to brainwash the readers, viewers or listeners.  Misinformation is a way to misinform.  Disinformation is a way to mislead. In order for us to retain our free speech freedoms we have to take some responsibility to make sure our messages are truthful.

We must remember that Facebook, Twitter and the rest of the information outlets including the television networks and radio networks are private businesses.  They are in business to make a profit but they should also be responsible for the actions of some of their subscribers and paid pundits who look at the outlets to send messages even if those messages may cause harm to the people receiving them.   

Former President Obama, I understand, is meeting with the firms to discuss ways to clean up the Internet.  I hope they can reach a conclusion that will protect us from ourselves and remain free with messages that can be proven as being truthful.