Trump threatens to 'close' down social media platforms

I think this is going to be a discussion thread that is almost inevitably going to be a shitshow, but anyway:

There are people who advocate the idea that private companies should be compelled to distribute hate speech, dangerously factually incorrect information and harassment under the concept that free speech is should be applied universally rather than just to government. I don't agree, I think it's a vast over-reach and almost unachievable to have both perfect free speech on these platforms and actually run them as a viable business.

But let's lay that aside, those people who make the argument claim to be adhering to an even stronger dedication to free speech. Surely, it's clear here that having the actual head of the US government threatening to shut down private companies for how they choose to manage their platforms is a far more disturbing and direct threat against free speech even in the narrowest sense.

I really appreciate your approach to this argument. You really cut through any strawman fallacies by pointing out that there's a debate along a spectrum about what protecting free speech entails, but that the President needs to have limitations in his power over private companies. I think this final point is not debatable in a legal context; he does not legally have that power.

Darn right he does not have the power.

Either the president does not know the constitutional limits on his power, or he knows them but still thinks it's a good idea to claim power that he does not have. I'm not sure which is worse.

Trump loves twitter. If he actually had a problem with it, he could just stop posting.

So I think it's more of a third choice - He doesn't care if he has the power, he's just creating chaos and conflict to excite his base, as he has been doing for years.

>>>The morons - and they are ALL morons - that support him

A not-insignificant portion of his base supports him because of exactly the sort of attitude you display in your post: arrogant, smug, baseless condescension. Did you learn nothing from the whole "basket of deplorables" incident?

https://wjla.com/news/nation-world/trump-won-the-majority-of...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basket_of_deplorables#Analysis

Agree 100%. And if my post calling a Trump supporter a moron is arrogant, smug, and condescending then I am prepared to own all of those accusations. I AM better than Trump supporters and I DO look down on them. All of them. Not a single one can make a policy based argument in favor of his Presidency. Not a one. And if you ask them to they rant about snowflakes and fake media and whatever else Tucker Carlson tells them the night before.

A large portion of his base supports him and squeals with delight because he antagonizes people that are intelligent, educated, and open-minded. Those people are morons. All of them. And if that sounds arrogant or smug or condescending then good.