A Dover city committee rejected a proposal that would prohibit city employees from making any negative comments about individuals or groups based on race, gender or other legally protected characteristics on social media websites, blogs or other online forums, including Facebook, Twitter and other online social media networks, no matter if they were on or off duty. The proposal would have also banned disparaging comments about co-workers, superiors or members of the public they may interact with in the course of their jobs.
Now, I would love to ban racist or discriminatory statements from the public square. Hell, I would love to ban racist or discriminatory thoughts and opinions. For I view such statements and opinions as pure evil, revealing the immoral character and the rotten soul fo the person speaking or thinking them.
But I can’t do that. It would be unconstitutional. It would definitely infringe on the worker’s First Amendment right to free speech. The city can regulate the employee’s statements in the workplace, but not outside it.
Now, the truly horrible consequence of this is that David Anderson and I are on the same side of the issue. Remember, Mr. Anderson is a Dover City Councilman now. I will wait until you finish screaming. Ready? Good. Here are his comments on the matter:
Councilman David Anderson said the language was a serious overextension of the city’s power.
“It goes far beyond existing policies,” he said. “It treats free speech as an action. My thoughts are not regulated.”