I agree that "speaking truth to power" can, and has been, abused. Treated as an end unto itself it becomes mere contrarianism, and loses the "truth" part of the phrase. I mean it in its original sense: speaking up when it is dangerous for you to speak, particularly when you have evidence of misdeeds by the powerful (the lack of evidence is another pervasive issue with most online speech - mere allegation against those you don't like is enough, it seems, for most people). When the government can disappear its critics and optionally suppress news of the disappearance, then critics deserve praise and honor.