I don't understand how speech can be equal if I have thirty dollars worth of speech and Exxon

[Winterblues]

has thirty million dollars worth of Speech. If voters in Florida had their vote count stopped because some had ballots that were different than others in another county, under the equal treatment banner, how is it my speech is not equal to Exxon's?

[Bluerthanblue]

1. it's not- unless you speak with a weapon- or with threats of violence-

then you'll have the corporate media to amplify your message-
Often after the fact and at great expense to society.
And at the cost of your 'freedom'.

:shrug:

Very few rights are "equal" in the USA- when you come right down to the truth of it. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness aren't begun on an equal starting ground for most of America.

The United Corporations of America ?

this is a sad day for our society.

[Lance_Boyle]

2. There is no requirement that speech be 'equal,' whatever that means.

That said, it is an absolute travesty to equate money with speech. Bad Supreme Court! Bad! Bad! Not much else we can do about it.

[pocoloco]

3. All speech is equal

but some speech is more equal..

see...no problem.

[Dr. Strange]

4. It's only equal in the sense that it's protected.

The government can't interfere or prevent you from speaking. Unfortunately, they also can't prevent others (like Exxon executives, etc) from speaking.
The speech is equally protected--no guarantee that it is equally valued by others, though.