Modern governments participate in the public discourse in a number of ways.
Still, in the United States, government speech intended to perpetuate power has been held unconstitutional from the Founding days. Governments regulate the sphere of communication to shield the public discourse from private monopolists. Activities funded by public money send cultural messages, limit or promote the distribution of certain views. Unless carefully proscribed, such interventions may result in further skewing of the public debate. Government speech is protected speech like any other speech.