photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, a new Cato national survey finds that self‐censorship is on the rise in the United States. Nearly two-thirds—62%—of Americans say the political climate these days prevents them from saying things they believe because others might find them offensive. The share of Americans who self‐censor has risen several points since 2017 when 58% of Americans agreed with this statement.
Clearly we have seen this in action even on a local level in Ridgewood. Name calling, bullying , “filtering” , silencing , group think , conformity, blind obedience ,right think , Facebook excommunication, boycotts and trying to get people fired has become part of life in Ridgewood . https://theridgewoodblog.net/in-ridgewood-its-free-speech-for-some-but-not-for-others/
These fears cross partisan lines. Majorities of Democrats (52%), independents (59%) and Republicans (77%) all agree they have political opinions they are afraid to share.
Strong liberals stand out, however, as the only political group who feel they can express themselves. Nearly 6 in 10 (58%) of staunch liberals feel they can say what they believe. However, centrist liberals feel differently. A slim majority (52%) of liberals feel they have to self‐censor, as do 64% of moderates, and 77% of conservatives. This demonstrates that political expression is an issue that divides the Democratic coalition between centrist Democrats and their left flank.
62%? 100 more like.
This is why there’s a curtain on the voting booth.
Hillary wasn’t beaten by the Russians, she was beaten by the voting booth.
How ironic that Hillary worried Donald Trump wouldn’t accept the results of the election, and then Hillary and her followers don’t accepted the results of the election.
Now we have a candidate with Dementia hiding in his basement and the MSM declares him the winner. We shall see what the voting booth has to say in November.
There are a lot of closet Republicans among us. I am one. I have to sit and listen to my colleagues and friends rant on about Russia and various other anti-Trump MSM talking points. I see their social media posts. They are obsessed. They think I am one of them. I’m not. I really like them as people, but the obsession with Trump has pushed me to limit at times. Remember Rudy Guiliani and his 2 terms as Mayor. It’s incredible that he got elected when everyone in NYC told their friends they voted for Dinkins/Messinger. Obviously not. People tell friends and pollsters lies. What they do behind the curtain is between them and their bank account.
In terms of November the pollsters got it right in 2016 but they failed to mention WHERE she ran up the votes. People forget about the electoral college. Uncle Joe can get 100% of the vote in NY and Cali but lose if he doesn’t nail the swing states. Outside of LA and NYC le grande orange actually won the popular vote.
lol hysterical
I’ll tell you what I am tired of. I am tired of pretending that racism and facism are just “different opinions”. They are not. They are reprehensible and shameful if if you espouse them people have the right to shun and shame you, as they should.
We fought a world war over this stuff already. You’d think picking a side would be easy but for some people it’s not. That is your right, but be prepared to experience any consequences as a result.
We have had to turn into hypocrites for fear of being persecuted by our own friends and coworkers. Trump would have the easiest win of all if he didn’t persist with his idiocies on twitter. I vote for him because the other side is very dark and scary but in normal times I would not forgive him for having his son in law run the WH and foreign policies or hire monsters like John Bolton. And yet Trump is still miles better than any politician from left or right. If he wins again I will immensely enjoy the sh!t on the faces of the left.
Every pole says Biden is crashing Trump. How many of you have been called by pollsters? I know I haven’t. I too have to sit and listen to my liberal friends say that Trump is a racist and the worst president ever. Meanwhile, Biden has made racist comments on tape where Trump has not. What legacy does Obama have??? Certainly Benghazi, and making school lunches disgusting. I know people who don’t even know that Hillary has been subpoenaed to testify on September 16. They are puppets of the liberal media. I just want another four years so I can see grown men like Chucky Schumer cry like a bitch and people lose sleep because Trump is still their President!!!
TRUMP 2020
Trump in 2020
The left in this country and in Ridgewood is synonymous with Facism
A shame that all prior commentators are anonymous. One must take risks if one is to reap the rewards of liberty.
62% admitted to this.
But surely, more than 62% actually feel this way.
Many of those who answered in the negative probably feared answering in the affirmative. In other words, they feared revealing that they fear revealing their true feelings and opinions!
This is why mail-in votes are wrong. Even IF they are honestly counted and no fraud is involved by the administrators (that is a HUGE IF), there is simply far too much in the way of opportunity for over-bearing family members to “supervise” the filling out of the forms.
Brian… in this case people with thoughtful answers instead of the usual Rwood blog diarrhea via keyboard stay anonymous because political opinions have become so personalized. Truthfully a real friend is a friend even if your beliefs and opinions differ but in ridgewood pretty much your judged on superficial crap anyway.
Goebbels was in favor of free speech for views he liked. So was Stalin. If you’re really in favor of free speech, then you’re in favor of freedom of speech for precisely the views you despise. Otherwise, you’re not in favor of free speech.
Noam Chomsky
I’m saying whatever I want to say on my time. It’s amazing at certain jobs you can voice your opinion, because they can’t handle the truth.
Toughen up, Buttercup.
Tell them how you feel.
Trump in 2020.
Many jobs are telling their employees not to say anything on social media but, if you side with them there are no issues.
The chaos that we see on TV every night are due to the lack of good parenting or parents who would not discipline their kids. Now, these phone addictive people think they are entitled to everything, everything should be free, and they have no idea how to lose.
The only way this stops is if the Republicans can win everything. Then these young punks will see if you do the crime you, will do the time.
I don’t watch or the news. Very happy in my snow globe.
This too shall pass.
I’d love to see the privilege white kids protesting in “Ridgewood” head over go Paterson and protest there…
The protesting kids in ridgewoood is nothing more than a result of the failure that is the public education system. These kids aren’t taught civics or the Constitution—they’re taught orange man bad, conservatives are nazis, and that socialism is cool…
We need to vote out the real fascists—the democrat party at every level… city, county, state, and federal!!