As a conservative who believes in limited government, I believe that the only check on government power in real time is a free and independent press.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
A free press is the cornerstone of democracy; there is no question about that.
I tell you, in my opinion, the cornerstone of democracy is free press - that's the cornerstone.
A free and truly independent press - fiercely independent when necessary - is the red beating heart of freedom and democracy.
A free press can, of course, be good or bad, but, most certainly without freedom, the press will never be anything but bad.
Without freedom of the press, there can be no representative government.
The freedom of the press works in such a way that there is not much freedom from it.
One of the unsung freedoms that go with a free press is the freedom not to read it.
The most effective check and balance on government has been an independent press which maintains its credibility by ensuring that its criticism is balanced and based on fact - based indeed on solid journalistic work.
What I'm thinking about more and more these days is simply the importance of transparency, and Jefferson's saying that he'd rather have a free press without a government than a government without a free press.
No government ought to be without censors; and where the press is free no one ever will.
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