Paul’s Daily Ration: 07/08/21

“Make lying bad again!” Wuddya think? Bumper sticker material? Membra when lying at least carried some degree of stigma? Yeah, me, too…

Because I am a patient man (yeah, right), I will calmly explain this to you yet again. “Censorship” refers only to governmental action taken to prevent a citizen from saying something in the first place (no “prior restraint”). “Free speech” does not protect us from the consequences of our words. Private companies have every right to control the content of their platforms. Can you just demand that a local television station put you on the air at ten tonight to say any random thing that’s on your mind? Sure, you can write a letter to the editor of a newspaper. But does the paper HAVE to print it? Let’s say you own a barbecue joint (good for you!). Can a customer just walk in and write “Eff the police!” on your blackboard menu without your permission? This is my blog and our company’s website. While you are welcome to submit comments, responses, op-eds and guest columns, do I HAVE to publish them?

The First Amendment gives us the right to speak (although that right is not absolute, and in no way indemnifies us from the consequences of our speech). It does not guarantee us an audience. Social media companies are not a public utility. They are private entities. They have every right to control their content. They have no obligation to disseminate and perpetuate demonstrable and incendiary lies. And that is a historically CONSERVATIVE concept. This is a private property issue, pure and simple. This latest publicity stunt and fund-raising grift by the permanently former president of the United States is an affront to both the Constitution and the intelligence of anyone who is rocking at least a double-digit IQ.

Membra when lying at least carried some degree of stigma? “Make lying bad again!”

Wish I had more time, but I’m late for my Bible Study class. We’re making pipe bombs today.

Hey, I invite you to tab over to “The Games People Play” on this website and we’ll talk some sports!

One Response

Lauri says:

July 9, 2021 at 4:05 pm

Social media gave us the perfect scenario to get friendly with ever-so-slight misrepresentations of, well, everything. It’s like advertising for personal lives, and it became a slippery slope of permissiveness and excuses. It’s not just the liar who’s the problem. It’s the culture in which any degree of misrepresentation is acceptable.

Highly recommend the HBO doc, Fake Famous. Blows the lid off the system. Eye opening.

Reply

Paul's Bio

I clearly have the attention span of your median fruit fly.Look! Airplane!

Sorry. I’m back.

It’s both a curse and a blessing. I’ve never bought this stuff about, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” But I do think that a wide range of life experiences helps us grow as people, and helps us better relate to other people. I’ve been fortunate. And I am beyond grateful.

I show up on time. I go like hell. I’m a good listener. I hold myself accountable. I own my mistakes. And I have a natural and an insatiable curiosity. I’m never afraid to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t. But then I try to find out.

The flip side is I’m a lousy ballroom dancer and my clothes sometimes fit me funny.

Stuff matters to me. I care. But while I take that stuff seriously, I try hard to never take myself seriously. As a result, I have sometimes been told, “Paul, it’s hard to tell when you’re serious and when you’re just having some fun. Which is it? Serious or fun?”

My answer is “yes.” But I think that is a legitimate criticism. I promise I’m going to work on that.

This has been the quickest and strangest half-century I’ve ever experienced. During that period, I’ve been afforded amazing opportunities in news and sports journalism across all platforms. I have taught wonderful students at the high school and collegiate level. Always, I learned more from them than they did from me. I’ve been a high school administrator. I spent ten seasons as a high school varsity football coach. I’ve been an advertising executive. I’ve hosted nationally syndicated television entertainment shows. In maybe the biggest honor I ever received, I was selected by NASA to be “Chet The Astronaut” for the “Land The Shuttle” simulator at Space Center Houston. (All I can say there, is “Do as I say, not as I do.” I put that thing in the Everglades more often than not.) Most recently, I just wrapped up a decade as a television news director, during which time our teams distinguished themselves in holding the powerful accountable, achieving both critical and ratings success.

What does all that mean? It means I am profoundly grateful. It also means I’m ready for “next.” So here we are. Radically Rational. It’s an idea I woke up with in 2017. I scribbled “Radically Rational” on a piece of notebook paper and used a magnet to stick it on our refrigerator. I saw it every day, and it just would not leave me alone.

I am second in charge at Radically Rational, LLC. My wife, Jo (also known as BB), is the president. Clearly, I have failed in my attempt to sleep my way to the top of this organization.

I hope you will learn that I’m loyal as a Labrador. But I will admit that this doggie can bite every now and then. My promise to you? I will show up on time. I will go like hell. I will listen to you earnestly and attentively. I will hold myself accountable. I will never be the least bit hesitant to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t.

But then I’ll try to find out. Let’s do it.