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Bullying tactics on display

“The Vanishing American Adult” is not just a book; I saw its consequences first-hand at Rep. Blum’s town hall last week in Cedar Falls and Marshalltown. A reasoned discourse and debate? Not hardly. More like hysterical cries of treason and fevered calls for impeachment, encouraged by handbills calling on participants to do as much. Repeated entreaties for quiet so questions and answers could be heard only caused the disruptors to redouble their efforts. Peaceful protest may be envisioned in our Freedom of Speech, but the organized bullying tactics I saw at these town halls was appalling.

Certain group long ago used such tactics to intimidate and take over their governments, and George Orwell claimed there was a synonym for a bully in such circumstances: Facist.

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