Shouting down the Texas Senate at the Capitol (live, bill)

[Kosmonaut]

Freedom of speech, or suppression of the democratic process?

[PedroMartinez]

Suppression, IMHO.

[Kosmonaut]

Agreed. The first amendment does not give one the right to silence others, nor did those demonstrators receive a mandate from 51% of the electorate to stop the bill from being passed. Imagine if Texas was a blue state, and HB5 had been intended to strengthen gun control, and 1000 NRA members showed up at the Capitol, and pulled a stunt like that.

[atxcio]

Freedom of speech. You know it's working when you don't like it.

There is a reason we have a large viewing gallery in our legislative halls. Now, if people are out of order they should be escorted out, but obviously the people that run the capitol building did not have enough staff to do that. They take that risk, especially when running votes to the very last minute, having special sessions because they couldn't get it through in the normal session, etc.

Bottom line, these are politicians and they should be able to handle a good shouting down. That is their job, to answer to the people whether it is cheers or jeers. They should also have some idea of when their actions will potentially elicit such a response.

You should see democracy in action in other countries; it can get very lively. And they typically have more than 2 parties, which makes things even more fun (and ultimately more fair).

So don't shed a tear for the local politicians who couldn't handle the heat they created.

[Debsi]

Take it to the politics forum, please.