Julian Assange: Surveillance Apparatus ‘a Threat to U.S. Democracy’

[Uncle Joe]

87. Freedom of the press and speech led to elections, not the other way around

You're putting the cart before the horse.

The U.S. Constitution was adopted on September 17th 1787.

The Bill of Rights including freedom of the press and freedom of speech in the very First Amendment wasn't ratified until December 15th 1791

No President was elected by the people until John Q, Adams election of 1824 and even that one had some shady underpinnings which eventually propelled Andrew Jackson to the White with a clear majority 647,286 popular votes and 178 electoral votes to John Q. Adams 508,064 popular votes and 83 electoral votes.

African American Men weren't allowed to vote until the 15th Amendment was ratified February 3rd 1870. Even after this with the advent of Jim Crow Laws, poll taxes etc. etc. were set up to deny them the right to vote.

The 17th Amendment allowing the American People to vote directly for their Senators wasn't ratified until May 31st 1918.

The 19th Amendment allowing American Women the right to vote wasn't ratified until August the 18th 1920.

Freedom of the press and freedom of speech directly led to those changes, along with the Civil War; but even that can be tied to a free press in motivating the people.

Without freedom of the press, you would have no elections of any consequence, this isn't a game what came first in regards to democracy, "the chicken or the egg," it was clearly the press.