• News & Analysis
    • All News & Analysis
    • American Values & Politics
    • Sharia Governance & Values
    • US Hate Groups & Crimes
    • Overseas Extremism
    • US Islamist Activity
    • Fact Sheets & Special Reports
    • Subscribe
  • Intelligence Network
  • Films
  • Activism
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • Contact Us
Menu
  • News & Analysis
    • All News & Analysis
    • American Values & Politics
    • Sharia Governance & Values
    • US Hate Groups & Crimes
    • Overseas Extremism
    • US Islamist Activity
    • Fact Sheets & Special Reports
    • Subscribe
  • Intelligence Network
  • Films
  • Activism
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • Contact Us
Search
Close
Donate
Menu
Home American Values & Politics Free Speech

Poll: Most Americans Say, ‘We are Afraid to Share Our Political Views’

Self-censorship has now become the norm, even among liberals

by Shireen Qudosi
July 26, 2020
Reading Time: 3min read
According to a new poll, most Americans are afraid to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech (Photo: Pxhere)
According to a new poll, most Americans are afraid to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech (Photo: Pxhere)

The following is Part I of a two-part series on the state of freedom of speech in America today and how it is being driven by extremists:

In a nation founded on the freedom to speak freely, more and more Americans are afraid to speak up — not because of their government, but because of what has become a standard of acceptable views largely driven by extremists — including Antifa, anarchists and cultural Marxists.

That standard has led to peer speech policing, employment termination, doxing and political violence as a response to what is used to be known as expressions of free speech.

According to a recent poll, more and more Americans of all political orientations admit they’re afraid to speak up.

The wildest data point is that over half of liberals—not strong conservatives, regular ol’ conservatives, or moderates, but *liberals*—feel uneasy voicing their beliefs in our current political climate. pic.twitter.com/CvrpQVJHCB

— Berny Belvedere (@bernybelvedere) July 22, 2020

A July 22, 2020 CATO poll found that self-censorship is on the rise in the United States, with 62 percent of Americans saying they have political views they’re afraid to share. That figure is up by four points from 2017 when it stood at 58 percent.

  • 52 percent of Democrats, 59 percent of independents and 77 percent of Republicans all agree they’re afraid to express their political opinions
  • 32 percent are worried about missing out on job opportunities because of their political opinions
  • Highly educated Republicans, those with post-graduated degrees, are most worried that their political views could harm their work prospects and security
  • While 58 percent of “staunch” liberals feel they can enjoy free speech, 52 percent of liberals feel they have to self-censor. That number hikes to 64 percent of moderates and 77 percent of conservatives

The survey mirrors the findings of a 2020 Gallup and Knight Foundation poll: Students felt greater pressure from peers rather than professors in tailoring their views to fit into the more “accepted” narrative.

Yet, ironically, at the same time:

  • 50 percent of strong liberals support firing Trump donors
  • 36 percent of strong conservatives support firing Biden donors

Preventing violent extremism expert Liam Duffy narrows in on why these data points are so significant:

This is cancel culture. Not a few people losing their NYT columns or cushty academic positions. It is a deeply unhealthy degree of self-censorship that will breed deep volatility. Truth is difficult. No one owns it. https://t.co/tXqWq0Ou34

— Liam Duffy (@LiamSD12) July 23, 2020

Apparently some people think they do own truth, which is part of the culture ultimately leading to the disintegration of free speech in America.

Rock and roll legend David Bowie’s 1997 hit track “I’m Afraid of Americans” wasn’t about hostility to Americans, but as the star phrased it, about the “invasion by homogenized culture … [that] narrows expression of life.”

While Bowie was referring to the eruption prefabricated consumerist culture (like finding a McDonald’s or Disney World in remote parts of the world), the phrase has taken on a whole new meaning in today’s world.

Tags: News Analysis
ShareTweetSendSend

Related Posts

Big Tech de-platformed President Trump (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Free Speech

Dark Days for America? Big Tech Wields Cudgel on Conservative Voices

January 10, 2021
Image from ISIS propaganda
Free Speech

Should Extremist Content Be Taken Down or Should We Talk About It?

December 20, 2020
Students and relatives leave a graduation ceremony at Rutger's University. Did they learn anything about the China threat? (Photo: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)
Human Rights Activists

State Department: American Kids Need to be Educated on China Threat

December 1, 2020
Retired General Michael Flynn (Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
American Values & Politics

General Flynn’s Pardon: Clarion’s Ryan Mauro Weighs In on Fox

November 30, 2020
'I Voted' stickers for voters on their way out at Ball Arena on November 3, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo: Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)
American Values & Politics

Do Islamists Like CAIR Represent American Muslims? The ‘Surprising’ Muslim Vote

November 8, 2020
Protesters in Portland burn the American flag on election night (Photo: Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
American Values & Politics

What’s the Attraction of Anarchy?

November 4, 2020

Most Read

From Street Thugs to the High-Brow Salon Circles, the Right to Free Speech Is Increasingly Under Attack

3 months ago

Dark Days for America? Big Tech Wields Cudgel on Conservative Voices

1 week ago

Pakistan: Top Cleric Says Israel Belongs to Jews

3 weeks ago

A Look at What’s Ahead for 2021

2 weeks ago

Islamic State’s (ISIS, ISIL) Horrific Magazine

6 years ago

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

By entering your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

contact us

[email protected]
1-888-610-2221

locate us

2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Suite 395, Washington, DC 20006

follow us

Youtube
Facebook-f
Twitter

News & Analysis

  • American Values & Politics
  • Sharia Governance & Values
  • US Hate Groups & Crimes
  • US Islamist Activity
  • Overseas Extremism
  • Fact Sheets & Special Reports
  • Subscribe

Intelligence Network

  • About Clarion Intel Network
  • Fuqra Files
  • US Extremists Map

Films

  • Iranium
  • Honor Diaries
  • Faithkeepers
  • Kids
  • Short Films

Activism

  • Preventing Violent Extremism
  • Exposing Foreign Funding
  • Our Speakers

about us

  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • Advisory Board
  • Partnerships
  • Donate
  • Contact Us
  • Donor Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
© Clarion Project Inc. 2020 — All Rights Reserved
501(c)(3) EIN #20-5845679
Menu
  • News & Analysis
    • All News & Analysis
    • American Values & Politics
    • Sharia Governance & Values
    • US Hate Groups & Crimes
    • Overseas Extremism
    • US Islamist Activity
    • Fact Sheets & Special Reports
    • Subscribe
  • Intelligence Network
  • Films
  • Activism
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • Contact Us
Search
Donate