I Will Not Go Quietly – Opinions From E. Curtis Johnson [OPINION]

Some think the left was too hard on President Bush and that the right is too hard on President Obama. Exaggerated vitriol isn’t healthy for public discussion, but it is a sign of a functioning republic. When a country’s leader no longer worries about the public’s opinion, you’ll find the seeds of tyranny.

For example, Vladimir Putin acts like a dictator, but was democratically elected with 63% of the vote. Putin’s biggest critic was jailed in 2013 on what many believe were trumped up theft charges. The United States and the European Union questioned Russia’s rule of law over the jailing.

My name is E. Curtis Johnson. I’m not comparing any American elected official to Putin.  However, when someone says, “You were too hard on that politician,”

I reply, “No I wasn’t. I was doing my job!"

Questioning and criticizing the actions of any elected official is our right and responsibility.” Elected officials are supposed to be our leaders, but they work for us. Elected officials never get to silence the voice of dissent from the electorate.