Carey McWilliams Quote

“Whatever the individual motives of the censors may be, censorship is a form of social control. It is a means of holding a society together, of arresting the flux which censors fear. And since the fear cannot be appeased, the demands for censorship mount in volume and intensity. And one form of censorship can easily lead to other forms.”

~ Carey McWilliams

Censorship: For And Against, 1971

Ratings and Comments


Mike, Norwalk

Accurate enough. The statist theocracy that now infests this nation is attempting to hold itself together, while expanding its forms of censorship.

jim k, austin

I'll go along with Mike.

J Carlton, Calgary

This is the modus operandi of the modern day Human Rights Commissions. Truth is no longer a defense in their kangaroo courts. Welcome the "Thought Police".

cal, lewisville, tx

I no longer watch the "Corrupt News Network" or CNN- nor do i watch MSNBC as they are totally unbalanced and censored.

E Archer, NYC

Both Clinton and W created councils for the mainstream media to 'keep their stories straight'. The Fairness Doctrine is rearing its ugly head again -- someone explain to me how the 1st amendment allows the government to decide which stations to grant licenses based on their content? Do we Americans not care at all that the President and Congress do not follow the rules of the Constitution and that we have no way of calling them to account? The press surely won't stand up for Liberty any more -- just more revenues and media-monopoly status...

Ken, Allyn, WA

An "emergency" is always the excuse for censorship. If the censor is not allowed to censor some terrible, dire consequence will result. Of course it's not a dire consequence for the people but for the government. Censorship occurs when the government fears the people and has to control the sweating, uncouth hordes. Senate bill S. 773 which would give the President the authority to seize control of private internet infrastructure in an "emergency" is a result. An excerpt of the draft bill is here: http://www.politechbot.com/docs/rockefeller.revised.cybersecurity.draft.082709.pdf

Elisabeth, Astoria, NY

It's true. One first blow is enough to cause one barrel of censorship after another one and another one to barrel ahead. But we're not talking about all media networks, are we?

E Archer, NYC

Who would have thought that social-media would end up with the power that is has?  Propaganda has become a staple to the world's cultures now.  The Thought Police are privateers that profit from the party line.  Gossip is testimony.  Innuendo is truth.  Like Madonna, constantly reinventing themselves into dependent blamers.  Identity politics so disturbing, that Americans do not even know who they are any more!  The truth is not broadcast  and if it is, it is soon shut down.

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