Death Panels Are Trying To Kill My Grandma! Is It Constitutional For Me To Scream At Town Hall Meetings So That No One Else Can Be Heard?

Thursday, September 17, 2009 | SJCL Room 213 | 5:30pm

Presented by Professor of Law Jeffrey G. Purvis

Congress is considering statutes that could change the way health care is provided to all Americans. That is NOT the topic of this year's Constitution Day presentation at SJCL. "Town hall" meetings have been held across the nation, supposedly so our legislators can learn how We the People feel about health care before enacting those statutes as our representatives. This is a picture perfect example of the value of freedom of speech in a constitutional democracy. What's wrong with the picture, then? Instead of reasoned debate over the pros and cons of the various proposals, many of the meetings are dominated by angry people shouting slogans, some of which have nothing to do with health care reform. The Constitution created a government, but of much greater importance, it provided for limits on government power to protect the fundamental rights of citizens. What if the exercise of rights by one group of citizens prevents another group from exercising its rights? What responsibility do we have as citizens to uphold the values of our Constitution? Should/can the government use its power to intervene? Let's talk!