Support dissent, debate; don't try to squelch it

The citizens who declared our independence from England were dissidents.

The framers of our Constitution set up a system of checks and balances so those who disagreed with each other could compromise and form a consensus.

We have three branches of government: legislative, executive and judicial. We have two parties, so issues can be discussed, and compromise reached through negotiation. We have the press, whose job it is to create transparency, but which is now muzzled.

Today, it seems dissidents are scum. They have been called Nazis, Astroturf, un-American, unpatriotic, loonies and other epithets by government officials and others.

According to the administration, we are all supposed to fall in line and unquestioningly, brainlessly follow the president, even over a cliff. We are not to disagree with the omnipotent and omniscient leader, on pain of being punished.

Fox News, a legitimate news network, is being punished for employing commentators who disagree with the party line.

Humana was punished for informing its members the health bill would cut $123 billion from the Advantage program.

Alan Grayson, D-Fla., made a fool of himself declaring that anyone who disagrees with the administration is an enemy of America, peace, health care, energy independence, etc. It was a speech worth of Chairman Mao himself.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi called dissidents Astroturf, and Joe Biden called dissidents unpatriotic.

We should thank God people are willing to question the government. Without dissidents, there is dictatorship.

Pete Welch

Hilton Head Island