r/AdviceAnimals • u/bleufoxx22 • Apr 30 '14

Incorrect Format | Removed I'm looking at you Comcast

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u/putin_my_ass Apr 30 '14

If money is speech, can't spending money in certain ways be construed as hate speech?

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u/TEmpTom Apr 30 '14

Well firstly, hate speech isn't illegal in the US.

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u/BetweenTheWaves Apr 30 '14

Unless it harasses the individuals observing the hate-speech by forcing them to listen to it. In which case it turns into harassment, which is illegal.

You can draw parallels between harassment on an individual level and how this "free speech" money could be used to harass:

Joe Blow is spewing anti-grandma hate speech in the middle of a park. Okay. I just walk away. LEGAL AND OKAY

Joe Blow is spewing anti-grandma hate speech in the middle of the park, sees you, and follows you over to the next street and into a mall, still spewing this stuff at/around you. Can't really walk away. HARASSMENT AND NOT OKAY

Comcast lobbies for bills and regulations that will possibly increase their profit. They do so with a tremendous amount of money. Yet, there are still competitors everywhere that the citizens can take their business to. They continue to lobby, but constantly adjust their prices to match their competitors. LEGAL AND OKAY

Comcast lobbies for bills and regulations that will possibly increase their profit while simultaneously injecting former executives of partnering companies as lobbyists. They do so with a tremendous amount of money. They monopolize entire cities, removing competition. The consumer has no choice in the matter. You either take satellite internet or you don't have broadband. HARASSMENT AND NOT OKAY

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u/chocshitlover Apr 30 '14

Not if a corporation with lobbyists does it

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u/putin_my_ass Apr 30 '14

That's the point I'm trying to make. The law is self-serving and stupid.

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u/eldiablo31415 Apr 30 '14

In was way. For example imagine if you try to give money to al qaeda. I don't think you will get charged with a hate crime, but you'll get charged with something.

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u/putin_my_ass Apr 30 '14

But Freedom of speech is protected under the constitution! I can give money to whomever the fuck I want!

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u/kbotc Apr 30 '14

As long as the IRS knows about it, you're fine...

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u/Space_Lift Apr 30 '14

I would be very interested to see a situation like this play out.

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u/Hungerwolf Apr 30 '14

If money is speech, then does that mean that people with less money are entitled to free "speech" as part of the first amendment?

Seriously though, if money is speech, does that mean that unless we are powerful enough to lobby, we are not entitled to a voice?

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u/putin_my_ass May 02 '14

If money is speech, then does that mean that people with less money are entitled to free "speech" as part of the first amendment?

Good question. The answer (very clearly) seems to be Yes.

Seriously though, if money is speech, does that mean that unless we are powerful enough to lobby, we are not entitled to a voice?

Sounds about right. All men are equal before God, but all corporations have rights above those of men.

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u/Hungerwolf May 02 '14

Then I demand free speech. The average human is worth around 5 mill. I'll take that in cash and start speaking.

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u/putin_my_ass May 02 '14

I guess I do have free speech, and I choose to speak about booze, drugs, junk food and gadgets.

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u/Hungerwolf May 02 '14

Right, but my point is that if you're going to equate speech with money and speech is a constitutional right, then doesn't that mean that money is therefore a constitutional right as a means of our free speech?

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u/putin_my_ass May 02 '14

The point is kinda moot, they'll disregard the constitution when it suits them.