At risk of stealing a page from Donald Trump's book, I'm wondering...

[Bucky]

Why can't we just start suing people who peddle provably false rumors about (1) election security and (2) covid vaccine necessity and (3) anti-masker conspiracy theories.

Shouldn't people who endangered public safety and the continuity of American governance be held accountable for the consequences of their speech?

If you can sue Bill Maher for calling you an orangutan (okay, technically half an orangutan), then why isn't the American tendency to litigate over fuckin everything being weaponized against Republican parasitism?

[Ocelot II]

1. Dominion and Smartmatic are doing exactly that.

Others may do likewise. And E. Jean Carroll's slander case against Trump continues. Defamation suits aren't easy, though, and most plaintiffs need deep pockets to take them on.

[Bucky]

3. sorta

But the only lesson Republicans will learn out of these lawsuits is not to lie about people who have a financial standing to sue them over.

I'm talking about civil litigation in the broader public interest, suing over the societal damage done to the social contract by people who undermine faith in various "public goods" like fair elections, voter access, and public health.

People who peddle lies that are demonstrably false should have to pay for their dishonesty if it can be shown to have a harmful effect on community assets. Historically that payment has been in the form of loss of reputation in the court of public opinion. That just doesn't seem to be an effective deterrent anymore.

[onecaliberal]

2. I've said that same thing.

[ms liberty]

4. I'm right there with ya, Bucky. n/t