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The Wall Street Journal reported on a Republican-sponsored bill in the U.S. House of Representatives which would bar the government from pushing internet companies to censor lawful speech. Under the proposed law, which has little chance in the Democrat-controlled Senate, government employees would be barred from pressuring internet publishing venues and social media platforms to remove or control lawful speech. Several of the bill's co-sponsors cited attempts by the White House to limit public discussion about the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines as an example of the need for the law.
Interestingly, while the House bill focuses on actions by Executive branch employees and U.S. government agencies to limit the free discussion of controversial issues, the bill also exempts Congress and Congressional staff from the law. Congress can move to stifle free-speech any time they please, but the rest of the government would be prohibited from doing so!
Congress frequently exempts itself from laws like the Freedom of Information Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and whistleblower protections, among others.
Regardless of how one feels about COVID vaccines or social media platforms, this is simply bad government. Good laws must apply to all citizens equally. If a law exempts certain citizens from its impact, it's a questionable law. Writing in Federalist #57 on February 19, 1788, James Madison said, "I will add, as a fifth circumstance in the situation of the House of Representatives, restraining them from oppressive measures, that they can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass of the society. This has always been deemed one of the strongest bonds by which human policy can connect the rulers and the people together. It creates between them that communion of interests and sympathy of sentiments, of which few governments have furnished examples; but without which every government degenerates into tyranny. If it be asked, what is to restrain the House of Representatives from making legal discriminations in favor of themselves and a particular class of the society? I answer: the genius of the whole system; the nature of just and constitutional laws; and above all, the vigilant and manly spirit which actuates the people of America -- a spirit which nourishes freedom, and in return is nourished by it.
"If this spirit shall ever be so far debased as to tolerate a law not obligatory on the legislature, as well as on the people, the people will be prepared to tolerate any thing but liberty."
Madison believed that if the people of the United States allowed Congress to get by with making laws that didn't apply to Congress, too, then the people deserved what they got! Madison expected the voters to quickly and firmly deal with any politician who tried to make himself an exception to the rules.
God's covenant with the people of Israel included provisions specifying that the rules applied equally to everyone. Speaking of Passover observances, Exodus 12:49 (NIV) says, "The same law applies both to the native-born and to the foreigner residing among you." Talking about sin and sacrifice, Numbers 15:29 reads, "One and the same law applies to everyone who sins unintentionally, whether a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you." When it comes to capital punishment, Leviticus 24:22 says, "You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born. I am the Lord your God." Even though the people of Israel enjoyed the blessing of being "God's chosen people," the laws of Israel were to be fairly enforced equally for citizen and non-citizen, rich and poor, powerful and peasant alike.
In Romans 10:9-10, the Apostle Paul writes about the judgment of God: "There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." God's judgment of sin and His grace for those who repent cover everyone on earth. No one will get by with sin because of his status, net worth or political clout. No one is beyond the reach of God's mercy, not even the murderer or molester.
God tolerates no double standards in His laws. Americans shouldn't either. It's hypocrisy, and it fails to live up to the Declaration of Independence's ideal that "all men are created equal." Laws that aren't right for everyone aren't right for anyone!
Mark Wilmoth
Pinehurst Christian Church,
Marietta