Free speech used as excuse to be boorish

Nikolas D. Skalkotos, Las Vegas

Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009 | 2:01 a.m.

I have no problem at all in accepting and respecting the proverbial grass-roots democracy movements and/or First Amendment rights.

I find it reckless and disturbing, however, when I see irresponsible anarchists using them as a pretext to augment their unawareness. And especially so when they are, allegedly, organized and paid by Washington lobbies and silently encouraged by their congressional leadership.

Violating the rights of other citizens by invading and interrupting town-hall meetings in order to prevent the dissemination of information on vital national health insurance reforms suggests neither a movement for democracy nor freedom of speech. Instead, it indicates an act of an unruly mob that lacks consideration for the rights of others.

In other words, it is an irresponsible movement imposing its brainlessness for the purpose of retaining the corrupt, greedy and ruthless status quo inflicted upon the American middle class and the poor by commercial health insurance companies.

I would sincerely like very much to believe that informed conservatism never meant nor ought to mean myopic extremism.