“Active liberty is particularly at risk when law restricts speech directly related to the shaping of public opinion, for example, speech that takes place in areas related to politics and policy-making by elected officials. That special risk justifies especially strong pro-speech judicial presumptions. It also justifies careful review whenever the speech in question seeks to shape public opinion, particularly if that opinion in turn will affect the political process and the kind of society in which we live.” IfsKindLawPoliticalTurnsStrongProcessLibertyOpinionRiskSpecialPolicyExampleShapesSpeechAreasCarefulActiveRelatedOfficialsJustifyReviewsFreedom Of SpeechPublic OpinionJudicialPresumptionElected OfficialsLive FreePublic OfficialsPolicy Making Author:Stephen Breyer
“I know that previously I would not have dared to express myself so explicitly about so uncertain a matter. I can take this risk because I am now in my eighth decade, and the changing opinions of men scarcely impress me any more; the thoughts of the old masters are of greater value to me than the philosophical prejudices of the Western mind.” KnowsMenMindI CanMatterValuesOpinionGreaterRiskMastersPrejudicePhilosophicalWesternDecadesUncertainImpress Author:Carl Jung
“Today, whether it is a student who holds a sit-in to get the army recruiters off his campus, or the mother of a dead soldier who refuses to leave the front gate of the president's ranch, we continue to be saved by brave people who risk ridicule and rejection but end up turning huge tides of public opinion in the direction of righteousness. We owe them enormous debts of gratitude. It is not easy to stand up for what is right, especially when everyone else is afraid to leave the comfortable path of conformity.” PeopleEndsTodayMotherEasyPresidentOpinionPathRiskFrontsStudentsHugeGratitudeComfortableArmyBraveSoldierRefuseDebtSavedEnormousRejectionGatesRighteousnessConformityTidesRidiculePublic OpinionCampusDebt Of GratitudeDead Soldiers Author:Michael Moore
“You have to take risks on policy. You can't be a politician, wringing your hands, worried about what the public opinion polls are saying or worried about the negative attacks. If you believe in something, go fight for it.” IfsBelieveHandsFightingOpinionRiskPolicyPoliticianNegativeWorriedPublic OpinionPollsIf You BelieveOpinion Polls Author:Scott Pelley