I think out of the Eight Values of Free Expression that the most important is the second. Participation in Self-Government. Alexander Meiklejohn was the first political theorist to found a defense of freedom of speech entirely on democratic theory. The function of liberty of speech and of the press, in his view, is to enable the most inclusive and therefore best public deliberation. It thus refuses to identify the right to speak freely with property rights, which as Meiklejohn observes can have relatively severe restrictions within the overarching limitation of due process. It has been suggested that citizens will not make wise and informed choices in elections if candidates and proponents of certain policies are restricted in their ability to communicate positions. We want an informed electorate involved in the debate to best represent the interests of the people and want to make sure we are electing the right person for the job.
https://www.lawbookexchange.com/pages/books/28756/alexander-meiklejohn/free-speech-and-its-relation-to-self-government
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