Where is the Real Hypocrisy?

Social media and internet platforms are free to ban users because they are a private companies but cake bakers are not free to refuse creating a wedding cake for a gay wedding.  This is the new alleged paradox that has conservatives and progressives calling one another hypocrites for standing in support of one but not the other.

Exchange of Information and Ideas
First, let’s be crystal clear.  Conservatives are not saying Google, Twitter and Facebook don’t have the right to censor posts or ban users.  From a strictly legal perspective, they can and should be able to determine their own rules as long as they do not abridge anyone’s liberties or cause harm.  Taking a post down or banning a user for abuse does neither of these according to the letter of the law.

This however does not exempt them from legitimate accusations of controlling public narratives in an extremely partisan way.  This suppression of conservatives goes far beyond the rants of President Trump and includes elections, news, science, information and free expression of ideas. Under the guise of fact-checking or safety, they contend that these ideas don’t meet their standards but only as defined by an arbitrary standard.

This would not be an issue in an open and competitive market place but these left-leaning tech giants control the vast majority of social media interactions.  I already hear you saying “but Mike, that’s capitalism. Let someone make another to compete then”.  Well, that too appears to be under assault.  Parler is now being targeted by Apple and Android who are disabling the social media alternative app on their platforms.  One day later, Amazon then took steps to take Parler off of their hosting servers.  Next will certainly be data providers being pressured to block these forums altogether from the web. That’s not a free market exchange between providers and users.  That’s an active attempt to shut down opposing views.

Cake Bakers are Private Businesses Too
Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips was asked to make a cake for a gay wedding which he was willing to do but would not express messages that he objected to.  He was then sued and targeted by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission but the case was overturned at the Supreme Court in a 7 to 2 ruling. The story didn’t end there as Phillips was then repeatedly sued including for refusal to make a cake celebrating a gender transition.  

The standard retort is that he violated their civil rights by discrimination on the basis of sexual identity. This however is not the case since Phillips did not apply a litmus test on the basis of identity. He objected to creating specific messages that went against his conscience on religious freedom grounds. He in fact serves and makes generic cakes for such persons on a regular basis.

The litany of lawsuits illustrates that this had nothing to do with the free market as all plaintiffs could have taken their business to any number of other competitors but they were seeking much more than a cake.  This was a symbolic action to make an example of Phillips and was directed at all businesses who share similar beliefs. 

What’s the Take-Away?
Both of these examples involve private companies.  I’ve made the case that conservatism views them all as having the right to manage their business models as they see fit, even if some disagree with a policy or action.  In both cases, the hard-left is driving the actions which are not applied equally to each example.  They control one and then use the ‘capitalism allows us’ argument but apply a different standard to the other that they don’t control so they seek retributive action through things like lawsuits and the proposed Equality Act.

Just today, Facebook deleted the Walk-Away Campaign page with its nearly half a million followers as well as the accounts of its employees and volunteers.  This is not coincidence, and it certainly won’t be the last of the purging.  It is readily apparent that all of these actions are orchestrated by a political movement that is represented not only by public offices but by big business, tech giants, entertainment and media outlets.  It’s also worth mentioning that I’m not advancing a conspiracy theory as there is no hierarchy of control.  It is simply a trend of like-minded people with powerful resources acting on what they perceive as a mandate.  Mob-rule is now king and anyone who dissents should be silenced.  Diversity of thought will not be tolerated.  As Lord Acton said, power corrupts.

What nearly half of the country is objecting to is the rapidly increasing assaults on ideological speech, religious expression and the ability to espouse differing views from the ever-changing cultural narrative. Republicans may seek various actions such as RICO statutes and anti-trust law but ultimately conservatism does not seek a solution via government. We would however like to see an end to the vilifying and false characterization of our positions. 

Weep for our nation and pray for revival of all of its people.