A Little Rebellion Now and Then Is a Good Thing

"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical....It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."-- Thomas Jefferson to James Madison (Jan. 30, 1787)

Here's a breaking news alert for all Americans: if you take part in protest rallies, voice your discontent through picket signs, or disrupt events with yelling or intermittent shouts, then you are likely a right-wing extremist or a member of an angry mob, and you must be silenced.

At least that's the chilling message coming from the Democratic National Committee. It's the same "you're either with us or against us" attitude that George W. Bush loved to trot out. This time, however, the bone of contention is health care and it's Democrats who are trying to drown out any opposition.

Responding to the increasingly vocal protests of Americans who are concerned about the Obama administration's plans to overhaul health care, the DNC has released "Enough of the Mob," a web ad that attacks the constitutionally protected right to protest. "The Right-wing extremist Republican base is back," proclaims the ad. "Desperate Republicans and their well-funded allies are organizing angry mobs... This mob activity is straight from the playbook of high level Republican political operatives. They have no plan for moving our country forward, so they've called out the mob. Call the Republican Party. Tell them you've had enough of the mob."

President Obama has taken this chilling message one step further, actually encouraging Americans to report on those who are spreading "disinformation about health insurance reform." As the White House blog states, "These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can't keep track of all of them here at the White House, we're asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to [e-mail]." This is the official message coming out of the White House.

Bear in mind, this is the same administration whose Department of Homeland Security not long ago issued a report defining rightwing extremists as individuals and groups "that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely." That same report used the words "terrorist" and "extremist" interchangeably in describing dissenting Americans. In other words, voicing what the government would consider to be unfavorable views about its policies is tantamount to being a terrorist.

Months ago, I warned that the government would be targeting for surveillance those who disagree with the administration politically. Now we see it unfolding before our very eyes. The Obama administration is trying, none too subtly, to put down a resistance movement.

Thomas Jefferson, that revolutionary patriot who advocated rebellion every 20 years or so in order to remind the government that a spirit of resistance flourished among the people, must be turning over in his grave.

After all, the people who fomented the American Revolution did so using the same tactics as those protesting Obama's health care plan and the nation's mounting debt. They spoke out at rallies, distributed critical pamphlets, wrote scathing editorials and took to the streets in protest. They were rebelling against a government they saw as being excessive in its taxation and spending. For their efforts, they, too, were demonized and painted as an angry mob, extremists akin to terrorists, by the ruler of the day, King George III.

It's a sad statement on the political bias of many within the civil liberties arena that few outside conservative circles have spoken out against these overt attempts to quell constitutionally protected speech. Had it been George Bush attempting something similar, the outcry among liberals would have been tremendous.

So where is the outrage?

No matter what your political persuasion may be, every American has a First Amendment right to speak their mind, gather together and protest against government programs with which they disagree. And there's a lot to be concerned about. For example, the secretive nature of Obama's administration and his seeming disregard for civil liberties has some on both sides of the aisle asking what happened to the change they were promised. Congressional corruption is rampant: 17 lawmakers are currently under investigation for allegedly breaking ethical standards. Government spending is out of control: the House of Representatives actually approved nearly $200 million to buy themselves three deluxe jets. This list goes on and on.

It should be noted that much of the so-called mob's ire is being directed at lawmakers who are back home during Congress' summer recess. As one newspaper reported, "Concerns over the pace and breadth of health care reform have birthed a fiery wave of activism during the congressional recess as fearful citizens make their voices heard with resounding vigor."

Finally, Americans are taking the time to voice their concerns at town hall meetings and elsewhere, and that's as it should be.

This is democracy in action, and it's about time.

Comments

[creolechild]

If you are concerned about receiving "real" health care reform in this country, please take the time to watch a video on our current system. The video was created by Oregon physicians who are advocating for the single-payer option. The video is very informative and helped me to gain a better understanding of various aspect of health care, as we know now it.

https://www.madashelldoctorstour.com/Mad_as_Hell_Video.html

These Oregon physicians are in the process of organizing a caravan designed to inform the public about the benefits of the single-payer option. At last count they will be stopping in approximately 23 states, on their way to demonstrate in Washington. They need volunteers and our support. Please spread the word.

[1murillo]

Whitehead,
Your post is disengenous. There is no real comparison between the town hall mobs organized by health insurance co. supporters and lobbyists, and the people who demonstrated against GWB's acts.
Neither is it necessary for a side - any side - to discuss an issue. Hollering as these mobs have been trained to do is a way to disrupt services.
When the recess is over, and the same mobs holler that healthcare reform is being passed without explaining what is being done, we might only think of these destroyed attempts to get information (and discussion) to the populace.
Whitehead, also, your Jefferson quote is misplaced. If the screamers - and you - are calling for a rebellion then let's hear an idea. Truly, disruption is the only (short-term) result the mob can claim. As has occurred throughout Obama's presidency, threats, fears, and conspiracies are the only tools the GOP (and its media supporters) can use.
If you're bold/brave (choose your adjective), speak against healthcare reform in a calm voice.

[pjnewsjunkie]

Forget your political identity when it comes to protecting and expressing your First Amendment rights. You cannot deny no matter how hard you try that reporting your friends to whitehouse.gove.gov doesn't chill speech. Not to mention it's very Nixon-ish. When Bush tried to set up Operation Tips it was rightly shut down and so too should this. And if you think about it - Operation Tips wanted snitches to stop terror attacks vs. whitehouse.govse.gov" which wants snitches solely to advance a political agenda.

Besides what's wrong with organized dissent? Face it - there's nothing wrong with it except when it's being used by the "wrong" people. I'm afraid we'll have to get used to it because we used it against Bush.

Let's not be hypocrites like the right wing - let's be better and say yeah snitching to whitehouse.govse.gov" is wrong.

[USBrit]

There is a simple way to clear this of the snitching issue - report what is being said without indicating who is saying it, unless they are paid representatives of the insurance and drug companies or their paid front organizations.

[Imago]

John, whose civil liberties got violated here?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/07/ann-kirkpatrick-town-hall_n_253788.html

[Imago]

Oh, get real, John.

I'm as fiercely protective of civil liberties as you are, but you've truly lost your mind if you compare this administration's efforts to respond to out-and-out lies coming from well-funded conservative organizations passing themselves off as grass roots movements.

There is a HUGE difference!

Debate is healthy. So is questioning authority. So is speaking truth to power.

But the key word in that last phrase is truth. From saying elders will be disposed of to the point by point lies in emails circulating about the current health care legislation in the house to screaming protesters who come to town hall meetings NOT to debate but to shut down discourse and education.­.. NONE of this is truthful. None of it is democratic. And none of it is about civil liberties.

Come with a well-reasoned, researched, rational argument against health care reform, and I will listen. Come screaming that the fascist/co­mmunist/so­cialist (sometimes all three, as if they could exist simultaneously in the same administration) b.ast.ards are going to ruin the country, ration health care, kill babies and old people, etc. etc. etc. all with the specific goal of shutting up conversation, and I will do my best to shut you down.

This is NOT protest. This is manipulation, and a genuine attempt to derail the national debate on healthcare. Brought to you by Dick Armey, the insurance companies, and other under dogs...

[Tena]

This is absurd for one overwhelming reason: those "protests" are funded, organized and run by corporations and right wing PR whiz Tim Phillips.

This is not a little rebellion - this is organized thuggery. They are shouting down real citizens with real concerns and the right has been walking this fine line between free speech and assembly and these canned riots for years.

It's a lousy false equivalency to say that these Corporate sponsored Limbaugh talkedup events are at all what the founders had in mind.

Shame on you for trying to shut down democracy while wrapping yourself in the constitution. Shame! Shame! Shame!

[ariscotle]

The founders of our country were all products of the Enlightenment, and they offered vigorous dissent with rational justification--in other words, any rational person could understand and evaluate the ideas being presented. Rational people often disagree, especially on political matters, but rational people can at least articulate their position (and explain what their opponents believe and why). While I agree that people have the right to protest at townhall meetings and the like, the positions they are advocating are hardly rational (e.g., "I'm opposed to all government insurance, but the govenment should keep its hands off my Medicaid (i.e., my government insurance)­.) The founding dissenters in our country were above all rational and articulate. I don't think it's such a bad idea for rational people to point out and reject people who are acting in irrational ways.

[SilviaMaria]

This people want the status quo, let insurance companies rip us like they are doing now. A family of 4: $12,000 year premium; in 10 years if we do not control the cost I will be paying close to $20,000 year.

[SilviaMaria]

They have a right to speak up their mind. The problem is that these angry mobs do not let anybody else speak their mind. There are a lot of lies and misinformation right now and these protesters that go to these town hall meetings have no interest in listening to other people or the other side. This is the problem.

Do you really believe that Health Care reform is a government conspiracy to kill old people? Many of these people think so, and they listen to the likes of Limbaugh, Beck and company.

[Bronx56]

It is good to remember that no matter how unpalitable the protestors actions may be to some, they do have the right to protest. Discussions on whether their protests are based on fact, fiction, or a little blue squirrel named Jake, are moot. There is no I.Q. minimum for our citizenry. If the protests are devoid of truly unprovoked violence, they are a stark reality. Based on the right's ability to whip it's base in a frenzy, I'm wondering why these actions surprise anyone. There is no simple solution. The defenders of the health care initiative must find a way to be more effiective than the screaming meemie wingnuts. This is our system....­....

[tompoe]

What are we, a week out from the arrest of the Harvard professor in his home for being disorderly? Bronx56 has the intellect of a . . . well, everyone is entitled to their private thoughts, right?

[Bronx56]

Did a quick skim of yer previous comments..­..Typical supersilious cyberbullyin' bloviation­...Sweet..­..

[RIConservative]

Finally, a fair article on the situation. The Dem's are trying to drown out all opposition, but rather than fade silently we have decide to speak louder. And the Liberal press decides to attack the protestors. I have never seen this in my life. Many, many left wing protests have gotten violent over the past few decades. Left Wing Extremists have blown up buildings (remember Bill Ayers) and then are given cushy teaching positions so that they can teach their hatred to our youth. Yet no one ever claimed that the DNC was behind it. Now, whenever anyone disagrees with the Obama mania it is blamed on the evil empire of the RNC. Twisting their mustaches behind the scenes waiting to pounce and destroy America. George Bush will get you.... Bwaa Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha....(evi­l laugh)...
For all you free speech and freedom lovers out there it is time for you to step back and look at your own people. They want to crush all opposition, silent all dissent, and villlanize anyone who has the audacity to speak something other than the DNC's praises. It is truly a scary time in politics. P.S. Please don't turn me in, I don't want to make the enemies list....

[JimmyTee]

Dissent is the highest form of... er, um, never mind.

[jrjones529]

The "mob" deserves to be called out when they are one.

[Paleo Pat]

I just wonder... When does the armed Revolution begin. When we stop carrying signs and start carrying guns and TELL THEM what THEY GOING TO DO or ELSE???

WHEN?

[FreelanceMinion]

Jefferson also thought the Terror phase of the French Revolution was just fine and dandy. And I believe he was a LITTLE less tolerant of such rebellion when it was his turn to be President.

Look, I like it when some anarchy is thrown into the mix, even against positions I like, but the problem is these people are monopolizing the conversation rather than taking part. The problem is NOT that they are standing up to be heard, its that they are not allowing OTHERS to speak also. They are doing something conservatives have long accused liberals on certain college campuses of doing--shouting down those they do not care for. Since when is THAT a conservative ideal?

Fine make a sign, get more than your share of friends to show up to the rally. But to be a responsible citizen you need to do two things --

1) Protest the ACTUAL proposal (i.e. since there is no inclusion of allowing euthanasia in these reforms, stop claiming it would be mandatory).

2) Show the common courtesy I hoped you Kindergarten teacher taught and allow others a chance to speak before and after you take your own.