In democracy, people have duty to speak out

Lately there have been several letters printed from conservatives whining about liberals being mean toward the president. I realize they are just emulating the leader of their party, who whines about how mean the press and everyone else is to him, but it is annoying to see citizens of the United States criticize fellow citizens for exercising their duties and rights as citizens.

The First Amendment of our Constitution was implemented specifically so We, the People, could speak out against the government whenever and however we see fit. This was a very important right to our forebears and is a right that must be used to be effective.

There is a tendency in our body politic to sit back and let our elected officials run the country, state or local government. This attitude is why the state of Illinois is in such terrible financial shape, and why the wealth of this country has been redistributed to the top 0.1 percent. We blame the representatives we elected, but really we have abrogated our responsibility and are now suffering the consequences.

It is our duty to express our opinions to our elected officials and to criticize them when they deserve it. The current occupant of the White House admires dictators that run other countries, and evidently envies them their control over the press and public comment. Not only is this shortsighted, but it goes against the principles this country was founded on.

If you object to criticism, then continue working to change our Constitutional government into a dictatorship. You will be making the leader of your party very happy.

Bill Slankard

Arlington Heights