The California landscape is filled with stunning visuals—sunsets sparkling over the Pacific, vibrant poppies blooming in spring, and the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge shrouded in fog. Yet, beneath this picturesque surface, the state’s appeal has gradually eroded over the past half-century, largely due to the actions of self-serving governmental figures.
This decline mirrors the destructive practices of 19th-century miners who obliterated the Sierra Nevada foothills for gold. The responsible governance that once characterized California seems to have been thoroughly undermined.
Currently, California officials in Sacramento appear to be pursuing a radical legislative agenda under the guise of the COVID-19 pandemic. This agenda threatens individual privacy, undermines parental rights, intimidates healthcare professionals, and jeopardizes the livelihoods of many. Here’s a closer look at some troubling proposals:
For instance, AB1993 mandates proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees and independent contractors wishing to work in California. Meanwhile, AB1797 sets up an immunization tracking system that grants government access to the vaccination records of all individuals.
But this is just the beginning…
SB871 adds COVID-19 vaccinations to the list of required immunizations for public and private school students, bypassing FDA approval and eliminating personal belief exemptions along with very few medical exemptions.
SB866 allows minors aged 12 and older to receive vaccinations without parental consent, reflecting a troubling trend where schools in Los Angeles have previously vaccinated children without parental knowledge, sometimes offering incentives like pizza.
SB1479 insists schools develop comprehensive long-term COVID testing plans, with mandates to report results to the California Department of Public Health.
SB1184 permits school health staff to disclose a child’s medical information to third parties without parental consent.
AB2098 categorizes dissenting medical opinions against COVID-19 measures as “unprofessional conduct,” exposing practitioners to disciplinary actions from medical boards.
SB920 empowers medical boards to inspect a doctor’s office and patient records without consent.
SB1464 threatens funding for law enforcement if they fail to enforce public health directives.
This frenzy of regulations is alarming. The most concerning aspect? Expressing a dissenting view—like suggesting that the risks associated with COVID-19 vaccinations may outweigh the benefits for healthy children—could render you liable under these laws.
Illegal Speech
State Senator Richard Pan has exhibited an unsettling desire to control online discourse. In 2018, he proposed SB1424, an initiative aimed at addressing the “spread of false information through internet-based social media platforms.”
If not for Governor Jerry Brown’s veto, this bill would have tasked the state Attorney General with forming a committee to counter misinformation online, complete with undefined “fact checkers” to verify news stories before publication. Thankfully, that measure was halted.
Now, Senator Pan is attempting to push forward with SB1390, which seeks to restrict individuals and entities from disseminating statements deemed untrue or misleading by the government.
In essence, this legislation mandates that social media platforms do not amplify harmful content that users did not choose to engage with, deeming “harmful content” to include a range of information, from medical misinformation to conspiracy theories.
Under this bill, a complaint mechanism would allow users to report perceived harmful content, with social media platforms being obligated to remove such content within 24 hours or face civil penalties.
This grants the government undue authority to define which speech is permissible. And one must wonder, how can the government claim to discern truth better than the individual?
Why the Digital Dollar will Destroy Free Speech
It’s crucial to remember that today’s conspiracy theories can easily morph into tomorrow’s realities. Just a while ago, accusing the National Institutes of Health of supporting gain-of-function research in Wuhan was dismissed as a conspiracy. Now, it stands confirmed as fact.
Imagine if Senator Pan’s proposed legislation had passed when such claims were still labeled as conspiracy; anyone sharing those claims would face repercussion, being swiftly reported and penalized.
Government control of speech is a hallmark of tyranny, and it has no rightful place in a free society. While Senator Pan may not strictly fit the profile of despotism, he seems to believe he knows better than the populace. This perspective is dangerous.
When authority figures dictate what constitutes truth and which viewpoints can be shared, individual liberties take a significant blow.
The erosion of free speech often parallels the decline of economic freedom and the infringement of financial privacy. And this issue extends far beyond California.
In Sacramento, there are indeed alarming proposals under consideration, yet at least they must navigate the legislative process. In contrast, Washington has already collaborated with major tech firms and media outlets to stifle free speech online using ideological algorithms that eliminate dissenting views.
This is merely the beginning. Washington is currently constructing a framework to suppress free speech further, linking it to social credit systems that could control how individuals spend their money.
As recently noted, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are on the horizon. The introduction of a programmable digital dollar is being expedited to mask an impending dollar default.
With increasingly self-serving individuals in power, the rise of the digital dollar threatens not just economic freedom and financial privacy but the very fabric of free speech itself.
Express the wrong sentiment, and your digital dollars could be revoked.
Is this simply a conspiracy theory today? Perhaps. But it may soon become an undeniable reality.
[Editor’s note: The adage “anything you say can and will be used against you” is evolving into “every dollar you spend can be used against you.” Upcoming surveillance measures will put your financial activities under scrutiny, creating unprecedented tyrannies that threaten personal freedom. To counter this, I’ve dedicated six months to identifying practical measures everyday Americans can adopt to safeguard their wealth and privacy. My findings are compiled in the Financial First Aid Kit. If you’re interested in learning more about this pivotal publication and how to obtain a copy, visit here today!]
Sincerely,
MN Gordon
for Economic Prism
Return from Why the Digital Dollar will Destroy Free Speech to Economic Prism
