The Eight Values of Free Expression

The First Amendment of the Constitution, or Freedom of Speech, is arguably one of the most essential and fundamental principles the United States is built on. It includes Freedom from religion, Freedom of speech, Freedom of the press, Freedom of assembly, Freedom to petition, and many more implications. To many around the world, it makes America what America is today. A place where people can express themselves freely and speak out about what they believe in without the fear of being persecuted for it. That is a right that practically no one else worldwide has access to, and while there have been mistakes, that is the foundational principle that we consistently strive to achieve.

However, within this amendment, there are some values that accompany this ability to freely express yourself. These eight values include the marketplace of ideas, participation in self-governance, stable change, individual self-fulfillment, checking on governmental power, promoting tolerance, promoting innovation, and protecting dissent. Different individuals exemplify these values in different ways, which only adds to the complexity of the First Amendment. These values are the aspects of the First Amendment that benefit our society by it being in place. Each holds its importance in a different way, and all play a part in creating the most ideal government in the history of the world.

Within these values, I found that participation in self-governance was the most important. This value felt most important to me because people would stop participating in government without the freedom of expression and the ability to voice their opinions. If people believe they don't have a voice and run their own government, they would be less inclined to express their views and participate. The critical central mechanism of the First Amendment is self-governance. You need it to have a free and effective society. So without it, the people would feel as if they no longer have any control or influence.

A prime example of this would be through modern day social media. As our world has progressed and advanced technologically, we have invented new ways of accessing and sharing information. This has primarily come in the form of social media. However, being a majority private sector, social media has led to some grey areas and dissent from the government. The Freedom of speech on social media and the government's right to regulate it has become increasingly polarizing in recent years. Censorship on social media has led to individuals of the minority feeling like they are being deprived of their First Amendment rights simply because others don't agree with what they are saying. Although there hasn't been explicit or legal censorship, there has been much evidence of private companies censoring information, and sometimes, the government pressuring these companies to do so. 

When this happens, individuals feel their opinions don't matter, and there is no participation in government. They are in a broken system where they can make no impact. This is a dangerous idea, as it limits the expression of free ideas and destroys the foundational principle of governing for the people by the people.

The values that feel most personal to me would be numbers six and eight or promoting tolerance and innovation. These go hand in hand because friends, family, and others often dismiss or outcast those with differing opinions. This is dangerous because we can't challenge ideas and norms without differing opinions. This slows our innovation and progression as a society. This also leads to people being viewed differently for having a minority opinion. This has dangerously set the precedent that it is acceptable to shut other people down in the pursuit of "doing the right thing" or being "sensitive of individuals emotions." However, this is the opposite of creating a tolerant society, as one can only exist when ideas are freely shared without judgment or persecution from others.

Finally, the value I see most in today's society is value number four, or individual self-fulfillment. Social media allows most individuals to express their opinions publicly or anonymously. Individuals feel more entitled to share their views and create their own personal identity online. On the opposite side of what we discussed earlier, many think that their opinion matters significantly more because they are educated and "know what they are talking about". These individuals often dismiss others ideas as they are very opinionated and are trying to achieve a feeling of purpose in government topics. At the same time, I'm not saying this idea of self-fulfillment in today's society is negative. It's essential for people to feel this and want to contribute something to the country. This allows us actually to accomplish the fundamental principles we strive towards. However, issues arise when individuals interfere with other individuals self-fulfillment in the pursuit of their own.

                              

Ultimately, the common theme with all these values is protecting people's ability to express themselves, especially those with minority opinions. Although these ideas and views will often be wrong, in the history of the human race, the outsiders are the key. Those willing to think outside of the box and be different in order to change the world. While that is hard to understand in the short term, and some ideas may seem dangerous or incite emotions. They are what allow us to learn and progress in the long term as a society. So I urge everyone reading to take some advice from our youth. Stop, take a deep breath, and understand others. Understand that there is more to this world than the problems of now and that exemplifying the Freedom of expression and it's eight values are the best way of progressing as a society. While helping those going through difficult times is important we must not allow it to hold us back from achieving the most incredible feats of human history.

The History and Workings of the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is a model for other judicial systems around the world. It holds this high standard because of the incredible foundation on which it is built, the U.S Constitution. However, it's not only the Constitution that makes this court what is is, but the power of public opinion plays a major role as well. Since it's inception, the 100 justices that have sat on the bench have held a standard of integrity that lives on for generations. There impactful and lasting decisions hold our country together. However, the court would not have this much influence and power without the courage of Chief Justice John Marshall, who granted the court the power that holds our nation together, the power of judicial review. This is the power of the court to impartially interpret whether branches of the government have the constitutional power to make certain decisions. 

This is what I found most intriguing from the Comm3390 Supreme Court Youtube Video. How a system so fundamental and groundbreaking can be built on such simple principles. Although this can be said about the entire United States construct of government, the Supreme Court is arguably one of the best representations. Their continued impartiality even to this day serves as a representation of the good that can come through interpreting the law as it was written. It is proving that a 200 year old document can dictate the incredibly complex problems of today. Although there are always mistakes, they do a fantastic job of achieving the fundamental principles that the founding fathers envisioned.

Watching the supreme court youtube video also surprised me with how well the justices consistently upheld the principles the Supreme court is built on. Even in trying and controversial times they displayed their unwavering service. It's easy in government to be corrupted by money, power, and influence, so their ability to stay impartial and do good for only the good of the country was inspiring. They exemplify the true and proper standard of elected officials where they follow the law, their opinion, and nothing else. And although they are not perfect and don't always agree, they come together to do right by the nation. 

Finding the good in our elected officials in modern day politics is very hard. And even know the purpose of the Supreme Court is to follow the law, that can be said about many positions in our democratic republic. Whether it be lobbying, stalling, or straight up lying in Washington, we the people have seen it all. So watching this video was a great reminder of how seriously the justices take their position and what it means to them. While it is definitely a tough job, they are all in it for the long term, and to benefit our nation. So, hearing them express this truly changed my outlook on the supreme court and the justices who make it what it is. 

So, looking forward in my life and as I develop as a US citizen, I hope and plan to do my best to uphold these values. Although I'm not on the Supreme Court as a justice, helping rule over the most sacred nation on earth. The United States would be a much better place if we all learned how to be a little more impartial and unite under the ideas that make us citizens of the United States. Similar to what the eight Justices do in the pursuit of upholding the prestige of the United States Supreme Court. 

Top Five Sources of News and Information

In today's society, social media and news platforms are the main way in which information and news is spread. This has led to many sources, stations, and platforms being biased in there reporting. This can cause devision between people as one portion of the population is being exposed to much different information than another portion of the population. This is why it is so crucial for individuals to obtain their information from reliable sources and always be objective about what they are consuming. Ultimately, it's impossible to cut out all bias and opinions from our information sources. However, the strength it shows for an individual to understand, interpret, and decide for themselves is so powerful. While the pursuit of this skill takes time, being able to read multiple sources and differing ideas is what propels us forward as a society. In working towards this skill I have made my fair share of mistakes, however, developing this skill takes time. So, to share what I use, I have provided my top five sources of news and why I choose them below:

Bloomberg

Firstly, I use Bloomberg and Bloomberg Television every morning to keep me up to date with the United States markets and global economy. Being a Finance major and having worked in Wealth Management, I have seen how critical it is to constantly be learning and analyzing the markets. This is the only way to be successful in the field, because every economic factor is impacted from what events occur. So, if one is not paying attention or hasn't stayed informed, they could be completely uneducated and misguided on what is best for their clients. However, consuming this much information throughout the day can be difficult when one is involved in so many areas. So, this is why I typically play Bloomberg in the background when I'm getting ready in the morning, or anytime I'm at my desk doing work. This not only allows me to know what important topics are on the agenda for the day, but also allows me to tune in for any breaking or important information. Since I've become so accustomed to Bloomberg, I find it easy to gain information while accomplishing other tasks at the same time. Ultimately, Bloomberg is a solid source that provides unbiased insight from analyst in the financial world. Although there is so much economic data to dissect, Bloomberg does a great job of breaking down and presenting the most important topics. Since I want to continue a career in Wealth Management, Bloomberg is a pivotal source in my everyday life, and will continue to be where I consume a lot of my economic and financial information.   

ESPN

Growing up constantly playing and watching sports, makes staying up to date using ESPN come second nature. However, people don't typically think of it as a news source. For that assertion, I would ask them to think about how many alerts and times they check it daily.  As it always provides the new updates, live reporting, and breaking stories of almost every sport on the planet. It has truly become THE one-stop-shop for all sports and athletic news in the world. While there are other network's, stations, and streaming services that stream live games, ESPN is constantly being used in combination with those services. Another pivotal part of why I use ESPN would be the ESPN+ subscription which grants you access to exclusive games, entertainment, and even leagues such as the UFC. This type of content isn't offered anywhere else and is typical for non-traditional games around the world. Although ESPN + comes at an additional cost of one hundred and twenty dollars per year, I find it more than worthwhile. Being such an avid user of ESPN and ESPN+ means that there is truly no other sports related source even close to the incredible things that ESPN has done and will continue to do in the future.     

Wall Street Journal 

The Wall Street Journal being one of the oldest news sources in the United States, is a strong reason why I use it as my daily consumption of the main stream media. I have found that the Wall Street Journal provides me with a diverse perspective on main stories from around the world. However, since I typically read the Wall Street Journal once a day, I find that it typically has much more accurate facts and verified data. This is because since the news isn't live and breaking, it gives reporter's time to gather there thoughts, the facts, and perspectives on whatever story has occurred. I find this beneficial as I can stay informed and up-to-date without having to play into the misinformation and shock of current events. Although, I must say that if a story is big enough, I will find out about it throughout my daily life. While like anything else, the Wall Street Journal has biased articles, unchecked facts, and misinformation from time-to-time. I am often able to understand this, recognize it, and be open-minded. This provides me with another manner in which I can continue my learning and advance my understanding of the world around me. This is also provides me with another source that I typically use for deepening my financial knowledge as it provides much articles related to economics and markets.

               

                  

Fox News

Fox News is a major outlet that attracts millions of viewers daily and billions annually. However, If I am being honest, this isn't my most used news source. Often because I can feel and hear the bias nature of it's stories. While having a perspective on others opinions is necessary, I try to limit my exposure. Typically, because I tend to agree with many of the opinions and political affiliations that they align with. Which is dangerous as you can get roped into only listening to what you want to hear about a story and don't explore alternative viewpoints. This allows me to use Fox as a decent baseline of knowledge on issues and then explore other sources and opinions to form my own perspective. Although this often takes more time and brain power, I have found that it is the best way of putting my thoughts, beliefs, and morals on display. I tend to watch Fox when I'm not engaging in any other activity. I usually tune in for specific events or times when listening is necessary. A great example of this would be for this weeks presidential election, as I will be watching Fox to follow all the live updates and changes throughout the night. Ultimately, Fox does better than most mainstream media sources and will continue succeeding. Although they are not my most used source, they can be reliable and offer a unique perspective. 

Instagram 

Like it or not, Instagram and social media are here to stay. They have now become a main source of information and news for a majority of Americans. Mostly due to the incredible amount of time and attention we spend on them daily. Unfortunately, I fall victim to this fact as well with the app Instagram. Although I am thoughtful and conservative with my use, I still use it as a main source of staying up-to-date on what's going on around the world. I have found that Instagram reels provide a very similar experience to TikTok and are my way of staying up-to-date without overdoing it. See Instagram and Instagram reels are much less advanced and provide much lower quality content then TikTok. This allows me to still get the surge of information, without spending hours scrolling a day. Having this balance allows me to live a much more balanced and productive life. Although, there are good days and bad days, having only instagram, is my sweat spot. Instagram provides me with a diverse field of topics from news stories, updates on friends & family, social trends and even financial information. Although limiting social media use may seem extreme, I have found it the best way to both consume necessary information, while also not spending too much energy doing so. 

Ultimately, information is a commodity, and individuals could use millions of sources to obtain their information. However, these five sources are what I use the most and find the most helpful in my everyday life. As the world changes, I'm sure these sources will change with it. However, as a researcher and someone who watches the news, I am becoming more intelligent and progressing in my journey. The news is pivotal and we all need it to achieve our full potential. So, I recommend that those reading find sources that work for you. Sources that allow you to learn, and do so reliably, because there is truly no better way to stay informed.