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The very heated healthcare reform debate demonstrates just how divided our country is and how fed up people are with politics, current events and government affairs. The lack of civility and name calling has increased in politics at a time where we should be united. When is that line crossed? When does vigorous debate and criticism become uncivil behavior?

As a country that has built its government on democracy, we should be able to have a debate without any type of ill- mannered language or actions. First there was Representative Joe Wilson, who shouted, “You lied” and then there was Representative Randy Neugebauer, who yelled, “It’s a baby killer.” Over the past few weeks we have hard racial slurs, death threats and vandalism in many states. Extremist points of view have been thrown into the public debate to score points and push emotional buttons when there should be more focus on facts and substance. As one of dozens of such extreme examples, Sarah Palin created a list of 17 Democrats who have supported the healthcare bill using rifle cross-hairs to target the states she would like to see defeated in upcoming elections.

So—let’s remember why we were given “time outs” when we behaved badly in elementary school. We are all entitled to express our opinions about the merits of the health care reform bill and whether or not its ultimate costs are best for the government and the American people. Our democracy’s very foundation is built upon those principles of freedom of expression. But can we please get our points across without the extreme mudslinging?