So, Mike, what are you arguing about? I agree that in earlier days, the First Amendment Freedom of Speech didn't mean much in the U.S. But since the extremes of the McCarthy era and with a number of Supreme Court decisions, the attitude in the U.S. toward free speech has changed, to the point where the thinking on free speech in the U.S. is quite different from what it is in Europe. There are civil laws against libel and slander, but it is far more difficult to prove libel and slander in a court of law in the U.S. Libel and slander are not a criminal offense under federal law or the laws of 30 states.

I did NOT say that the U.S. attitude about free speech is better than it is in Europe. I said it's different.

-Joe-