Town halls show democracy in action

I am enjoying watching the various August town hall meetings held around the country in which average citizens are giving the "what for" to their legislators who are trying to explain the radical health care proposals of the Obama administration.

Many of the sessions have erupted into shouting matches as people are venting their anger at legislators who seem to be nonresponsive to the heartfelt concerns of the American people.

Sen. McCaskill of Missouri was effective in deflecting anger with her opening up her town hall meeting with the question, "How many of you are so angry that you can't think straight?"

Sen. Specter of Pennsylvania has learned from his disastrous joint public forum with the secretary of Health and Human Services that the raucous public meetings need to be more orderly. He instituted a lottery system where 30 people were allowed to ask questions.

I admire the public servants who are willing to face the fire from their constituents. The majority of Americans oppose the health care reform that is being forced down their throats. The Obama administration is now changing its ineffective strategy and calling the debate one of health insurance reform.

Whatever you call it, it is a massive overhaul of the health care practice in the United States and bears an eerie resemblance to the socialist health care systems of Canada and England.

I am proud of my fellow citizens who inform themselves about the devil in the details of health care reform and speak truth to power.

Tom Jones

Pingree Grove