“I am disappointed about the attempts to characterize the behavior of Americans expressing their concerns as ‘un-American'. Although I strongly encourage the use of respectful debate in these town halls, we should not be stifling these discussions. There is nothing ‘un-American’ about disagreements. In fact, our great nation was founded on speaking our minds.” - Senator Orrin Hatch (R, Utah)
America was indeed founded by people who had a very profound distrust of centralized, concentrated power. The first attempt at a Federal government under the Articles of Confederation actually erred toward the side of being too de-centralized. The drafting of the Constitution was an acknowledgement that there had to be some level of centralization to provide for the proper operation of a nation. The Founders, however, were very careful to limit this government to just a very few enumerated powers.
In our form of government, a Representative Republic, the government derives all of its power, either directly or indirectly, from “The People.” The People have not only the right to disagree and protest the government when they are not happy with its direction, but an obligation to do so. Even Hillary Rodham Clinton, when she was still a Senator, seemed to have agreed with this point of view when she said, “I'm sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and disagree with this administration, somehow you're not patriotic. We need to stand up and say we're Americans, and we have the right to debate and disagree with any administration.” Of course she was talking about the Bush administration at the time, but the principle is the same.
When The Peoples’ representatives are not hearing or paying attention to their concerns, they have the right to become adamant that their voice is heard. This type of public discourse and basic distrust of government power is in the tradition of our great country. It is, in a very real way, American.
Let’s contrast this with forms of government that have very powerful and centralized governments. These governments almost never allow disagreement or public opposition. These governments denounce protest as unpatriotic…or worse, treasonous. They have large propaganda machines that always promote the party line and encourage turning in unpatriotic detractors to the authorities. In modern times, these countries have been totalitarian communist or socialist regimes.
Debate is healthy. Public discourse is necessary to maintain the freedoms for which many have given their blood and lives. Those who rail against the town hall protestors and Tea Parties, who call them un-American, are themselves acting against the traditions of this country. They align themselves more with traditions of counties like the USSR and Nazi Germany in trying to shut-up the opposition…they are the ones who are acting un-American.
We should not confuse the protests against the current health care legislation with a desire to maintain the status quo. Many who do not want to see the government control health care, still believe that tort reform, controlling the access of illegal aliens, and allowing insurance companies to compete across state lines are needed reforms that can help. But many would rather do nothing than to give over healthcare to government bureaucrats whom they do not trust.
Myself, I agree with Hillary Clinton… " We need to stand up and say we're Americans, and we have the right to debate and disagree with any administration.”
America was indeed founded by people who had a very profound distrust of centralized, concentrated power. The first attempt at a Federal government under the Articles of Confederation actually erred toward the side of being too de-centralized. The drafting of the Constitution was an acknowledgement that there had to be some level of centralization to provide for the proper operation of a nation. The Founders, however, were very careful to limit this government to just a very few enumerated powers.
In our form of government, a Representative Republic, the government derives all of its power, either directly or indirectly, from “The People.” The People have not only the right to disagree and protest the government when they are not happy with its direction, but an obligation to do so. Even Hillary Rodham Clinton, when she was still a Senator, seemed to have agreed with this point of view when she said, “I'm sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and disagree with this administration, somehow you're not patriotic. We need to stand up and say we're Americans, and we have the right to debate and disagree with any administration.” Of course she was talking about the Bush administration at the time, but the principle is the same.
When The Peoples’ representatives are not hearing or paying attention to their concerns, they have the right to become adamant that their voice is heard. This type of public discourse and basic distrust of government power is in the tradition of our great country. It is, in a very real way, American.
Let’s contrast this with forms of government that have very powerful and centralized governments. These governments almost never allow disagreement or public opposition. These governments denounce protest as unpatriotic…or worse, treasonous. They have large propaganda machines that always promote the party line and encourage turning in unpatriotic detractors to the authorities. In modern times, these countries have been totalitarian communist or socialist regimes.
Debate is healthy. Public discourse is necessary to maintain the freedoms for which many have given their blood and lives. Those who rail against the town hall protestors and Tea Parties, who call them un-American, are themselves acting against the traditions of this country. They align themselves more with traditions of counties like the USSR and Nazi Germany in trying to shut-up the opposition…they are the ones who are acting un-American.
We should not confuse the protests against the current health care legislation with a desire to maintain the status quo. Many who do not want to see the government control health care, still believe that tort reform, controlling the access of illegal aliens, and allowing insurance companies to compete across state lines are needed reforms that can help. But many would rather do nothing than to give over healthcare to government bureaucrats whom they do not trust.
Myself, I agree with Hillary Clinton… " We need to stand up and say we're Americans, and we have the right to debate and disagree with any administration.”
