I've chosen my words very carefully, and the First Amendment gives all of us the right to speak our mind. But, you're saying that it's a one way street, with no responsibility taken for what one says.
I'm saying that I don't want to pay Churchill's salary with my tax dollars. That's my opinion, it's my right to say that, and it's my right to tell politicians that I strongly disagree with where my tax dollars are going.
Free opinions have no restrictions, ...
Of course they do. Wherever you got the idea that a man can say what he wants, anyplace, and any time, is fantasy - not reality. Common sense usually tells people that they don't tick off the people who pay their salaries. In other words "they watch their mouths" around the people who sign their checks. This is common practice in private business, and it's no different in the public sector.
If Churchill was in private practice I'd have to problem with what he said no matter how much I dislike it. However, once a man puts his hand out for federal funds he's obligated, by common decency, to show respect for where those funds came from. If he doesn't I have every right to ask that his taxpayer's funding be stopped.
Of course they do. Common sense usually tells people that they don't tick off the people who pay their salaries...
The "..." that you took out of my post was "only consequences." As I said before, you should NEVER be restricted on what you say, ever. You have to be willing to accept the "Consequences" that come from the words you use in the situation you're in. You are saying, "If it's anything negative about the people that pay your bills, keep your mouth shut. Period." I'm saying, "If you believe something is wrong, you are free to speak your mind, let the world know. Right or wrong, accept the consequences of your words."
However, once a man puts his hand out for federal funds he's obligated, by common decency, to show respect for where those funds came from.
Common decency and common sense are not common to everyone, and obviously not Churchill. But again, if you feel that the people that pay your salary have not earned your respect, then you should not respect for decency sake (See Enron, Worldcomm, Tyco, etc...) If someone in the know, brings any of these scandals to light earlier, people's entire livelihood could have been saved. Just accept the Consequences that come along with standing up for what you believe, right or wrong.