First, >>21 is not me.

>If a slave does not dare to speak out against his master out of fear that he'll be withheld food, would you really call this a problem with freedom of speech?

If I was a person equal in status to the slave owner, would I be wrong to say to him "I think you should let your slave speak", just because I didn't say "I think you should set all your slaves free"? I would be more likely to succeed with the first suggestion rather than the second, don't you think?

> what kind of negative consequences (if any at all) would you be willing to accept for speaking out?

I fail to see how the question is relevant. I felt really strongly about something, maybe I would be prepared to die painfully for speaking out about it. Maybe I am a coward who wouldn't ever voice the slightest disagreement with my boss on any topic. What do my individual reactions have to do with the larger issue of freedom of speech?

> And let's not kid ourselves here, nobody in a first world nation is dependent on a specific job.

Oh really? Did you go around and ask everybody? Or are you just extrapolating from the fact that you and your friends aren't?