Outlawing Fascistic Racist Speech

[Michael Perelman]

Aren't the people who are most susceptible to racist/fascist/homophobic some of the most downtrodden or mentally unstable.  In so far as the first group is concerned, giving people more opportunities and a better standard of living seems to be more effective than controlling speech.  For the second group, I suspect that the condition of some of them may have to do with their oppressive environment.  For the others, better care would seem to be helpful.

I wish that it were possible to eliminate hateful speech through some sort of edict.  Unfortunately, it is probably impossible to carry out.

I hope that my reference to mental instability does not set off too much of a thread, since we have been through much of that already.

--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu