Top Three Takeaways – February 17th, 2021
- Freedom isn’t free. It costs a minimum of $4 per month for the most basic VPS, or Virtual Private Server, services offered by cloud computing service Skysilk. Probably not where you thought I was going was it? Parler is once again free for you to use thanks to LA based Skysilk’s willingness to stand up for the freedom of expression. Honestly, did you ever think you’d have to seriously worry about freedom of expression in the United States? And none of us could have imagined that a startup social media service called Parler and a startup cloud service company called Skysilk would be the last line of defense in the age of the censorship/cancel culture. Yet here we are. I’ve never believed in boycotts but I do believe in buycotts. In this regard, I’ll maintain my shadow-banned, now unverified Twitter account with about 40% fewer followers than before, but my primary social media hub will be Parler. I strongly encourage you to do the same. If you’re leery of Parler because of the slanderous reporting of the platform as a “right-wing” platform or something of the like...Understand that A) Every news outlet which has reported Parler as such has lied to you. It’s a free speech platform in which anyone can join. B) It’s no more “rightwing” than Twitter is “leftwing”, though of course Twitter, Facebook and others are never reported as such. C) They’re literally the only platform which stood up for freedom of expression. Also, it’s false that they don’t remove unprotected speech, a la threats, from the platform.
- 65%. The percentage of Americans who believe social media companies violate the first Amendment when they ban users based on potentially objectionable political content. That's based upon a study from the First Amendment Association – yet that’s exactly what big technology companies have done. If you have any questions regarding how much power big tech companies have in our country... How many businesses would survive when they upset 65% of their customers (this side of the airline industry)? Yet that’s exactly what tech companies have been doing while thriving. Remember, if you’re not paying for the service, you’re the product being sold for the service to make money. In this context, you’re being sold by big tech companies which in turn are eroding our freedom of expression with the proceeds. Who are you being used by in your everyday habits? Then ask yourself if using the same services you’ve grown accustomed to are worth the erosion of your freedom? There are other options.
- Great leadership is rare. That’s because great leaders put others before themselves. It’s rare to combine the talents necessary to become a significant leader in any walk of life along with the willingness to put other’s first. Who does Jack Dorsey put first? How about Mark Zuckerberg? What about Jeff Bezos? All brilliant people, all highly successful but do they put the interests of other’s first? Now, let’s think about think in political leadership. What about Governor’s like Andrew Cuomo or Gavin Newsom? Do they put other’s first? Now what about Governor DeSantis? Does he put your interests first? Notice a trend, The cancel-censor culture supports those who don't serve others first while our state has literally had to sue the censors on behalf of you. We're fortunate to have great leadership in Florida. Look at all of the states which lack it and then look at the 900+ people moving here daily seeking it. This country became the world’s superpower in under 150 years because it put people first. It achieved greatness by allowing us to realize our potential. States like California and New York are no longer great because they deny people theirs. Just as Americans are fleeing to Florida for freedom, the same should occur with technology companies if you value freedom...which of course has never been free.
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