This should scare the tar out of everyone

While I’m not a fan of Jeff Bezos, for the most part, I am a fan of Amazon. It’s my go-to source for, well, everything. It’s hard to beat as far as prices go and it’s helped a lot of small businesses get off the ground, so yeah, I’m a fan. Upgrade to paid But I also recognize that it’s a corporation run by a leftist and that’s going to cause some issues that I can’t be a fan of. For example, there are some recent revelations that may well be the harbinger of horrible things yet to come. From RedState: How deep did the Biden administration's censorship regime go, which infamously targeted Twitter and Facebook? According to newly subpoenaed emails by the House Judiciary Committee, it even reached the world's largest retailer, Amazon. Rep. Jim Jordan released some of the details on Monday, which included former Biden official Andy Slavitt pressuring Amazon to censor books that questioned the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines. Never-before-released internal emails subpoenaed by @JudiciaryGOP reveal that the Biden White House pressured Amazon to censor books that expressed views the White House did not approve of. “Is the [Biden] Admin asking us to remove books”? Image That last sentence is chilling. As if there's nothing wrong with what was occurring, an Amazon worker asks, "Is the Admin asking us to remove books, or are they more concerned about search results/order (or both)?" As Jordan shows in the chain of emails, Amazon did hold off for a short period, but it wasn't long before they relented to White House demands, censoring search results for books deemed to be "disinformation" regarding COVID-19. Now, there’s some blame for Amazon in this, but the lion’s share of it falls on the Biden White House. How dare they even try to shut down books they think are critical of the administration! And yes, Amazon shouldn’t have even considered it, but I also get why they would. It’s not like the White House couldn’t make their life difficult. Perhaps more troubling than what happened is the precedent it set. See, even if you agree that a book questioning the COVID vaccine was bad, you’re out of your mind if you think that’s where it will end. Every issue has two sides and one of those sides will almost always be represented at the White House. That means there’s going to be someone in the White House with a potential interest silencing opinions that differ from their own. Think of it this way: If you agree with what was highlighted above, would you want Trump or his people to have that same authority? No? I’m not surprised. Far too many people have an idea that what they want is so good that the rules shouldn’t have to apply. Anything is justified in the name of what they decide is “good” while the exact same things are unconscionable when done by the other side. In this case, it’s silencing criticism about the vaccine but it could have just as easily been abortion, gun control, welfare, or any other issue. Then, when the other side figures this is just how business is done now, the same people will lose their minds. The best way to deal with it is to simply never allow it in the first place. It’s to never tolerate it should it happen. All elected officials and all positions have critics. This is normal and natural. Silencing them, however, doesn’t benefit society. Vigorous debate does. The free exchange of ideas does. But the Biden administration doesn’t want criticism. They can’t defend ideas. That means the answer is to simply not let people see the criticism in the first place. And it’s disgusting. Tilting at Windmills is 100% reader-supported. If you enjoyed this article, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription for 15% off the first year or making a one-time donation here. Your support is greatly appreciated. Tilting At Windmills. © 2024 Tom Knighton 548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104