When Facebook listed my recent birthday, I got more than 150 responses in a few hours.  When I post family events – such as a birthday pizza with my kids, there are always a number of “likes,” “shares” and comments.

I am not bragging, but only setting the stage to make a point. I recently decided to upload two of my PunchingBagPost.com commentaries.  Nothing dramatic – one was just my analysis of the Covid-19 pandemic based on government statistics, and the other my own response to being vaccinated.

But when I went back the next day to see who might have responded – and how – I was surprised to find that there were no … none … zero … responses.  No “likes.”  No “shares.”  No comments.  After another 24 hours – same.

I checked by to see when the last time I had no response to ANYTHING I posted.  Even my most obscure, uninteresting “who cares” postings would get at least a few responses.  But two postings – in a row –got nothing.

There was only one distinction to be made.

The two items presented my opinion on a topic that is the grist for left-wing media mills.  And I must admit that my analyses were not in keeping with the prevailing left-wing media narratives.

In one, I questioned analysis of the Covid-19 numbers published by the New York Times.  I provided a solid empirical and statistical basis for my opinion.  Nothing offensive.  No harsh language.  No threats.  Nothing that should have run afoul of Facebook’s guidelines.

In the second article, I explained why – based on the numbers and the statements of the medical professional – I felt that the vaccine gave me a secure feeling despite the shutdown. If the vaccine is 95 percent effective, why arethey telling me to continue to maintain the Draconian protective measures?  Seems like a fair question.

I cannot help but conclude that I have been the victim of Facebook censorship.

Mark Zuckerberg & Company have three ways to deal with content they do not like.  (Notice I did not say content that is dangerous, slanderous, provocative – just what they do not like.)  They can take the posting down.  They can ban me from Facebook – temporarily or permanently.  Or most ominously, they can arrange the algorithms to simply restrict the dissemination.

I say, “most ominously” because you have no way to know what they did.  Taking down a posting or banning a person is obvious – and requires some explanation.  But simply stopping distribution eliminates any transparency.  One can only deduce that Facebook did SOMETHING that resulted in the lack of responses.

The fact that it is being down over matters of legitimate political opinion is disturbing – to say the least.

We have already seen much of the so-called news media abandoned the ethics of journalism to become a partisan communications outlet for Democrats and the far left.  They have long ago banished alternative views and information that does not comport to their left-wing narratives.

The garrote of censorship is now invading the social media platform – once viewed as the last bastion of free speech.

The restricting of free speech is an advanced stage of authoritarianism.  It is not as if America is entering dangerous uncharted waters.  We have seen this before.  We find it in the autocratic regimes of Russia, China and North Korea.  Censorship and propaganda were the tools that enabled a malignant political party to assume control of Nazi Germany.

Pushing back against political censorship by Facebook and other companies may be the most important thing we can do if we want our kids to live in a free Republic.

So, there ‘tis.