“In societies like the American and West European where the dynamics of energy come from freedom and where the climate and the whole ethos are those of freedom, censorship is bound to be at worst, stupid; at best, futile; and always, to some degree, inconsonant with the character of the society as a whole.”

What we don't know IS hurting us.

I agree that censorship is inconsistent with the character of a free society as a whole, but when the freedoms of our supposely free societies have been so contorted there are subtle, and not so subtle forms of censorship, that not recognized or labeled as such have considerable sway over people's abilitiy to unearth the truth.

I disagree with a crucial point in this quote.Censorship has not been futile where the interests of the Executive Branch have been questioned.Those who have openly challenged"governmental censorship" have paid a price.

There can never actually be a free society and censorship at the same time. One is mutually exclusive to the extent of the other

The quote and Jack are correct. I here agree with 'Me Again' but, what does that say about our Country. For example: 911. Way too much forensic science and a plethora of hard circumstantial evidence (we could see the wing damage on the twin towers, where was the wing damage on bldg 7 and/or the Pentagon? etc. etc. etc.). A code of censorship is blinding the character of the society as a whole.