It is accepted wisdom that we live in a free country. Every kid in grade school learns that. We have a free, if flawed, press. Even with the virus, were pretty much free to assemble; peaceful protest is legal. We can worship if we want, or we dont have to if we dont want. And, of course, we have the right to vote.

So, why would anyone even seriously question whether we live in a free country?

Because, in reality, were not nearly as free as wed like to think.

Just because we still have free-speech rights doesnt mean we feel free to exercise those rights, to say whats on our minds. What if were afraid to voice our opinions? Are we still free then?

Which brings us to a new study by the Cato Institute.

Lets start with this about how a majority of Americans are so afraid of what could happen to them if they express an unpopular opinion. Nearly two out of every three Americans (62 percent) say the political climate these days prevents them from saying things they believe because theyre worried that others might find their opinions offensive.

Right from the moment we won the revolution and sent the British packing, weve liked to think of ourselves as a courageous, tough people. Fear was not part of who we were. Yet now, two out of three of us are afraid to say whats on our minds, not because a dictator might lock us up but because someones feelings might be hurt. Welcome to America 2020.

Cato says this fear crosses party lines: 52 percent of Democrats have opinions theyre afraid to share, 59 percent of independents feel that way, and so do a staggering 77 percent of Republicans. And what might happen, they fear, is that if they say the wrong thing, they might get fired and lose their livelihoods; Cato found that one in three Americans (32 percent) who work say theyre worried about missing out on career opportunities, or losing their jobs, if their political opinions became known.

Given the political climate these days, Americans may have good reason to be afraid. But whatever this is, its not tough and its not courageous; its not who we like to think we are.

Here are some other numbers that should worry all of us:

Thirty-six percent of Americans who identify as strong conservatives think its okay to fire an executive for donating his or her own money to Joe BidenJoe BidenBiden says his faith is 'bedrock foundation of my life' after Trump claim Biden clarifies comments comparing African American and Latino communities Kanye West may have missed deadline to get on Wisconsin ballot by minutes: report MOREs presidential campaign. Self-described strong conservatives the very people railing against the cancel culture think its okay to fire an executive simply for donating personal money to Bidens campaign.

If you think thats bad and it is consider this: 50 percent of those who identify as strong liberals say its okay to fire executives who personally donate money to President TrumpDonald John TrumpBiden says his faith is 'bedrock foundation of my life' after Trump claim Coronavirus talks on life support as parties dig in, pass blame Ohio governor tests negative in second coronavirus test MOREs reelection campaign.

Taking these results together indicates that a significant majority of Americans with diverse political views and backgrounds self-censor their political opinions, according to Cato. This large number from across demographic groups suggests withheld opinions may not simply be radical or fringe perspectives in the process of being socially marginalized. Instead, many of these opinions may be shared by a large number of people. Opinions so widely shared are likely shaping how people think about salient policy issues and ultimately impacting how they vote. But if people feel they cannot discuss these important policy matters, such views will not have an opportunity to be scrutinized, understood, or reformed.

This is the America we live in.

As a correspondent for CBS News for many years, I traveled to many countries, including authoritarian countries such as China and the old Soviet Union. As a general rule, people in places like that arent likely to share their opinions. There are consequences for holding the wrong opinions; you can get into serious trouble if you have unacceptable ideas.

No, Im not suggesting that the United States is like China or the old Soviet Union, where having an unpopular opinion might get you a train ride to a re-education camp or a jail cell in the gulag. But I am suggesting the obvious: People in a free country shouldnt be afraid to say whats on their minds.

But it looks like a majority of us are.

The government hasnt taken steps to curtail free speech. Not yet, anyway. And there may not be a need to do so: A majority of Americans are censoring themselves.

Bernard Goldberg, an Emmy and an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University award-winning writer and journalist, is a correspondent with HBOs Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. He previously worked as a reporter for CBS News and as an analyst for Fox News. He is the author of five books and publishes exclusive weekly columns, audio commentaries and Q&As on his Patreon page. Follow him on Twitter @BernardGoldberg.

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Afraid to speak your mind? Maybe we're not as 'free' as we think | TheHill - The Hill