While I respect my fellow citizens' right to protest government policies they do not like, the recent "Tea Party" events show an ugly side of dissent. There is the rank hypocrisy of just now protesting government spending that adds onto already massive deficits left to us by George W. Bush, thanks to an elective war and billions thrown away on no-bid contracts.

And let's not forget the billions thrown to insurers and drug companies when they were allowed to draft the Medicare Part D bill. Where was the outrage then?

These protests were billed as nonpartisan, but it is clear that they were inspired by an irrational hatred of President Obama fostered by an increasingly radicalized remnant of the Republican Party.

"He's a very dangerous person," one participant says. That was one of the more polite remarks. When the Republicans were in power, they would have called that remark un-American.

A majority of the country had to put up with a president with whom they disagreed for eight long years and with more objective cause than these people can cite. Give it a rest, and stop trying to incite hatred when this country really needs to pull together. If you give him half a chance, you just might like the result.

Jerri Young

Pinehurst