POL Is it Un-American to Protest?

dstraito

TB Fanatic
I think that things are going to get a lot worse before better. A civil war may be coming but it's not North and South, Black and White, it is Liberal versus Conservative.

Obviously the two groups have a different idea on what it means to be American.

Conservatives are rallying across the country to protest what they see as unfair, unsustainable, and un-American policies that the Democrats and the Liberals are trying to shove down our throats. The lack of transparency, 1000 page documents they try to rush through before anyone has a chance to read them. Reallocation of Wealth. Increased, unfair taxation. Deficit and debt beyond belief.

Who called them UN-American when they protested nearly EVERYTHING BUSH did?

Why is every question or comment about Obama's policies is labeled Racist? - I'll tell you why, because the policies are flawed and if people start to realize that they will not pass so it is easier to discredit the individual or group than the message they are repeating. It's easier to jump on the National Band wagon and label dissention as Un-American instead of "protest is the ultimate patriotic act".

Bring it on Nancy. Every time you open your mouth you undermine your flawed agendas and programs and strengthen the resolve of American’s who consider themselves as Incredibly Patriotic as I myself do.

What we consider Un-American is the policies Nancy and her party are trying to shove down our throats that are SO detrimental to the future of ALL AMERICANS.

We have found our VOICES NANCY and you and your crony’s are NOT going to be able to silence us not matter how badly you malign us.

What you are going to find NANCY is that you probably will NOT get voted back into Office because people are being able to perceive your lying, false, power-grabbing motivations.

Keep on talking badly about AMERICAN’s that want answers, Keep on trying to hide the issues and attack the messengers, it WILL backfire and then maybe we can get rid of both parties and start over. How about a campaign to “NOT VOTE IN ANY INCUMBENT”?

Keep it up NANCY, you are doing yourself more damage than anyone else ever could.


'Un-American' attacks can't derail health care debate

By Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer


from http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/08/unamerican-attacks-cant-derail-health-care-debate-.html

Americans have been waiting for nearly a century for quality, affordable health care.


Health coverage for all was on the national agenda as early as 1912, thanks to

Teddy Roosevelt's Bull Moose presidential run. Months after

World War II came to an end in 1945,

President Harry Truman called on Congress to guarantee all Americans the "right to adequate medical care and protection from the economic fears of sickness." From President

Lyndon Johnson to

President Bill Clinton, to President

Obama's winning campaign on the promise of reform, there hasn't been a more debated domestic issue than the promise of affordable health care for all.


(Steny Hoyer/USA TODAY)

(Nancy Pelosi/USA TODAY)



We believe it is healthy for such a historic effort to be subject to so much scrutiny and debate. The failure of past attempts is a reminder that health insurance reform is a defining moment in our nation's history — it is well worth the time it takes to get it right. We are confident that we will get this right.

Already, three House committees have passed this critical legislation and over August, the two of us will work closely with those three committees to produce one strong piece of legislation that the House will approve in September.

In the meantime, as members of Congress spend time at home during August, they are talking with their constituents about reform. The dialogue between elected representatives and constituents is at the heart of our democracy and plays an integral role in assuring that the legislation we write reflects the genuine needs and concerns of the people we represent.

However, it is now evident that an ugly campaign is underway not merely to misrepresent the health insurance reform legislation, but to disrupt public meetings and prevent members of Congress and constituents from conducting a civil dialogue. These tactics have included hanging in effigy one Democratic member of Congress in Maryland and protesters holding a sign displaying a tombstone with the name of another congressman in Texas, where protesters also shouted "Just say no!" drowning out those who wanted to hold a substantive discussion.

Let the facts be heard

These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades.

Health care is complex. It touches every American life. It drives our economy. People must be allowed to learn the facts.

The first fact is that health insurance reform will mean more patient choice. It will allow every American who likes his or her current plan to keep it. And it will free doctors and patients to make the health decisions that make the most sense, not the most profits for insurance companies.

Reform will mean stability and peace of mind for the middle class. Never again will medical bills drive Americans into bankruptcy; never again will Americans be in danger of losing coverage if they lose their jobs or if they become sick; never again will insurance companies be allowed to deny patients coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

Lower costs, better care

Reform will mean affordable coverage for all Americans. Our plan's cost-lowering measures include a public health insurance option to bring competitive pressure to bear on rapidly consolidating private insurers, research on health outcomes to better inform the decisions of patients and doctors, and electronic medical records to help doctors save money by working together. For seniors, the plan closes the notorious Medicare Part D "doughnut hole" that denies drug coverage to those with between $2,700 and $6,100 per year in prescriptions.

Reform will also mean higher-quality care by promoting preventive care so health problems can be addressed before they become crises. This, too, will save money. We'll be a much healthier country if all patients can receive regular checkups and tests, such as mammograms and diabetes exams, without paying a dime out-of-pocket.

This month, despite the disruptions, members of Congress will listen to their constituents back home and explain reform legislation. We are confident that our principles of affordable, quality health care will stand up to any and all critics.

Now — with Americans strongly supporting health insurance reform, with Congress reaching consensus on a plan, and with a president who ran and won on this specific promise of change — America is closer than ever to this century-deferred goal.

This fall, at long last, we must reach it.


Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is speaker of the House and

Steny Hoyer, D-Md., is House majority leader.​
 

Desertrat

Inactive
It's only un-American when it's conservatives protesting against liberals. This began with the so-called "free speech" movement at Berzerkley, California, in the 1960s; Mario Savio's organizing efforts at the university there. That is, if you spouted the liberal party line, you were allowed to speak freely. If you spoke otherwise, you were shouted down via their right to speak freely.

No real change, this last half-century...

'Rat
 

Old Gray Mare

TB Fanatic
It's only un-American when it's conservatives protesting against liberals. This began with the so-called "free speech" movement at Berzerkley, California, in the 1960s; Mario Savio's organizing efforts at the university there. That is, if you spouted the liberal party line, you were allowed to speak freely. If you spoke otherwise, you were shouted down via their right to speak freely.

No real change, this last half-century...

'Rat
I don't want to believe that Desertrat. Somewhere along the line the term "Liberal" has mistakenly taken on the meaning of "Socialist". These are or should be, IMHO, almost diametrically opposed concepts. Our fore fathers who wrote and approved the Constitution were Liberals. One of them, President Washington warned that The United States could not be brought down by foriegn attack but could be from within. But only if the people let it happen.
 
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Ender

Inactive
It's only un-American when it's conservatives protesting against liberals. This began with the so-called "free speech" movement at Berzerkley, California, in the 1960s; Mario Savio's organizing efforts at the university there. That is, if you spouted the liberal party line, you were allowed to speak freely. If you spoke otherwise, you were shouted down via their right to speak freely.

No real change, this last half-century...

'Rat

Double Speak has been part and parcel of BOTH parties for a very long time.

"Protesting is Un-American" was part of the diatribe against Vietnam protesting.

Bush II had protesters moved to certain fenced sections so as not to disrupt his motorcades.

If you were/are against the wars in Irag/Afghanistan you are Un-American.

The Patriot Act is so named so that if you disagree, you are Un-American.

The US was born of protest and we all have the right to do so.
 

SassyinAZ

Inactive
Tell that to those that got their asses kicked by the BO incited and hired thugs at the TH meetings.

You cannot compare BO and his minions call pitting Americans against Americans to any other, nor can you lessen his actions by attempting to do so -- let him own them.

Dissent obviously is un-American in BO's mind.
 

fruit loop

Inactive
No, I will defend anyone's right to free speech, unless it interferes with the rights of someone else (such as blocking traffic, intruding on a private event such as a funeral, etc).

I may not like what you're saying, but I'll defend your right to do it.
 

Publius

TB Fanatic
It our constitutional right to do so and NOTE!!! ITs a RIGHT not a privilege.
Fruit Loop make a good point on where to draw the line but no further restriction's than that.
 

NoPlugsNM

Deceased
I went to college in Bezerkley in the 60's, those were the days of some out-right phenomenal protests, with a truly hostile 'committee' to attempt to contain them.

What makes protesting AMERICAN is the fact that they are an exercise with given RIGHTS to do it. While the liberals want to squelch the opposition, attempting to stop them from voicing their opinions at every turn will result in GREATER protesting. To protest something amounts to nothing more or less than saying/telling someone/or group of individuals that you disagree. When you work to deny that voice, you will get REAL protests, they become out of control easily, and then the 'comittee' steps forward to stop them.

Obama sees opposition as defiance to his dictatorship. Obama sees whatever actions by whichever group of thugs he empolys as his right as dictator to stop dissent to his dictatorship. Obama only really knows two kinds of how to govern, that of socialism as was his growing-up form of government in Indonesia and that of Chicago politics which was how he grew into politics. Any other forms are truly unacceptable in his narrow mentality.

As Fruit Loop pointed out, there ARE places where lines must be drawn, but that is the max of where a restriction should be placed, anything before the allowance of your rights and freedoms is nothing but dictatorial issues that lie within those who believe they are in charge.


I am all for 2010 being the year that NO incumbant gets re-elected and I believe that should be the foundation for the elections and selections. It is time for REAL CHANGE that goes to putting people in office who will serve the people not big business and the good old boys.





NP
 

Sligo

Membership Revoked
Part of the joy of being an American is the RIGHT to bitch and complain about the government, the branches of government, anything I want to, and change my mind later if I want. I have always been grateful to have that right, as long as I am not infringing on someone else's rights. :wvflg: It's VERY American to protest, disagree with, debate, criticize, and even ridicule our elected figures and the government in general. So I may complain, but I'm glad I have the right to.
 

Publius

TB Fanatic
It is if you are a Stalinist!!

And we're seeing this concept being applied here in our country!!! Like in DC they tell you, you must apply for a permit to protest and this means you are subject to their permission to use our Constitution Right's. You are not allowed to protest at election time against any political candidate running for office. Dictator's often silence any opposition in-order to keep popular up risings from happening.
 

fruit loop

Inactive
NoPlugs, Sweet Baboo was at Berkeley in the sixties, too.

He was also at the protest when Reagan called out the national guard and shot at people. He hated Reagan ever after.
 

NoPlugsNM

Deceased
Hey FL.

BOY DO I REMEMBER ALL THAT STUFF GOING DOWN !!!!

But you know, outside of a couple days where people kind of walked on eggs and paid GREAT attention to their surroundings, it didn't take long for it all to ramp right up again. Lots of tension on the campus. I had a small apartment in Hate - it was the place to be in the time it was all happening, just crazy.

I recall the Vietnam war demonstrations being a lot more vocal, boisterous, maybe inflammed would be the best description, the TH stuff is truly mild and pales in comparison.



I grew up in CA. Had Nixon a couple terms for gov, Reagan a couple terms for gov, both Jerry SR and Jerry JR Brown as gov - to tell you the truth they were all about the same as govs except Jerr Jr. he really tightened down, very osteer budgeting, it was all 'good' for CA back then, hard to believe and watch what CA has become. You could have about called Jerry Jr. a conservative. But then, the parties were almost the opposite of what they are today, almost like a role reversal has taken place. Today, CA has crossed the rubicon into socialism, the GUBERNATOR has brought to America his roots instead of embracing the ones that he so admired when he chose to imigrate.





NP
 

SassyinAZ

Inactive
That's not a fair comparison, did Reagan incite union members, pay thugs via Demo groups, send talking and rallying points to his supporters, establish snitch-mail to attend peaceful protests at town halls and "get in people's faces" then have appointed Directors praise them for the same, all while pointing the finger at others????

BO isn't Reagan and he isn't Bush, he can answer for his own fascist freakiness, he cannot justify his actions so instead he and his 'bots blame someone or something else, never him.
 

Kalliope

Inactive
Tell that to those that got their asses kicked by the BO incited and hired thugs at the TH meetings.

You cannot compare BO and his minions call pitting Americans against Americans to any other, nor can you lessen his actions by attempting to do so -- let him own them.

Dissent obviously is un-American in BO's mind.

Who? Name actual names? Which side was it that had a side fall out of their pocket at a Town Hall? Hmmm? That dude was NOT beat up - he is playing y'all for fools trying to get funds for his 'health care' because he doesn't have a job? why is that? Because of what he did as a police office in STL. He was kicked off the force. Go look it up.

Plus why is it that when you talk, it is dissent, but when the other side tries to talk, they are taking away your rights? Both sides get to talk, not make asses out of themselves. That is the correct way - not one side bringing guns to a TH.
 

SassyinAZ

Inactive
Who? Name actual names? Which side was it that had a side fall out of their pocket at a Town Hall? Hmmm? That dude was NOT beat up - he is playing y'all for fools trying to get funds for his 'health care' because he doesn't have a job? why is that? Because of what he did as a police office in STL. He was kicked off the force. Go look it up.

Plus why is it that when you talk, it is dissent, but when the other side tries to talk, they are taking away your rights? Both sides get to talk, not make asses out of themselves. That is the correct way - not one side bringing guns to a TH.

Who said "punch back twice as hard" and "get in their faces" soliciting members of SEIU?

There was NO violence before it was condoned and incited by BO himself.
 

kozanne

Inactive
Who said "punch back twice as hard" and "get in their faces" soliciting members of SEIU?

There was NO violence before it was condoned and incited by BO himself.

And as Michelle Malkin said this afternoon, 0bama's silence speaks VOLUMES. He knows exactly what is going on.

I grew up in a union town. I have seen FIRSTHAND the violence and the threats. My home town history is full of houses being burned down, people being beaten up and hung from light poles. All because they crossed a picket line to go to work and support their families. I saw the unions virtually bankrupt my home town and turn it from a great little community of 75,000 people to less than 25,000 in the space of three years. I was a union member, forced to join only after I was told my alternative was not having a job at all.

I grew up in a Democratic household. UNIONS were a BIG part of the deal. There were three questions I was asked by my grandfather on my wedding day: 1. Is he Catholic 2. Is he a Democrat 3. Is he a union member

Unions have a history of thugocracy and violent intimidation.
 

cleobc

Veteran Member
NoPlugs,

You said you had an apartment in Hate. Do you mean Haight? Kind of Freudian, given the nature of the thread.
 

BoatGuy

Inactive
I think Pelosi should read the Constitution before the little tyrannical monster goes around telling others what an American is, or isn't.

Sincerely,

BoatGuy
An American
 

Old Gray Mare

TB Fanatic
Those protesters at Berkeley way back in the bad old sixties are the new retirees of 2009. They have time, money (well they have been watching their retirement savings slip away and they are probably not happy about it), they have plenty of experience on how to stage a political protest and get their voices heard. They also can probably find Washington DC on a map.

Wonder if tie dye and peace signs will be comin back into fashion? Plat form shoes are already back in the stores. I hated them the first time I saw them and they have not improved.
:ld:
 
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