House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer authored an editorial in USA Today which criticized conservative protesters for being "un-American."  Evidently, they feel that getting carried away and asserting a differing opinion makes you less of an American than someone who remains calm, or better yet, favors our country being dragged closer toward socialism with each passing day.

     I'm not a fan of shouting and screaming.  I prefer a calm, intelligent discussion.  With that said, I can understand how people's tempers flare.  Think about this: Congressmen who probably haven't read the health care bill are holding town hall meetings to answer their constituent's questions.  If they haven't read the bill, aren't they just parroting the party line?  If you ask an important question and know you are getting a canned answer, aren't you going to get upset?

     The part that I find shocking is the Democrat's criticism of the protestor's motivation.  If liberal citizens protest, it's considered a grassroots movement.  When conservative citizens do the same, it is rejected as "astroturf."  People like Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer are criticizing conservatives as a way of  devaluing their effort.  Their greatest fear is that the town hall uprisings will continue to gain media attention, which will then cause the average citizen to look at the health care issue more closely. 

     There is a good chance your Senator or Representative will be holding a town hall meeting.  I would encourage you to read as much of the health care bill as possible, attend the town hall, and ask informed questions.  The best way to put a stop to our charge toward socialism is to expose the truth about the health care bill.