Lawmakers Seek To Calm Health Care Town Halls

Angry crowds have put many lawmakers on the defensive as they try to talk about health care with their constituents, leading some to replace public forums with teleconferences or stepping up security to keep protesters at bay.

[Tom]

Polls continue to show the public does not favor a government health care option, Democrats can ignore the majority at their own peril.

[Absarokee OH]

The government cannot run Social Security and Medicare on a sustainable basis, now we are going to let them run a government-based Health Insurance Company?
Do they think we are really that naive? Elected officials must stop spending the money we don't have, after Bailouts, TARP, up and coming Cap and Trade, there is nothing, zip, nada left but a big debt, and the dollar (our very own dollar) will be headed South in devaluation. My children and grandchildren are being shackled to a debt that is unsustainable and will follow everyone for generations to come, and the people are not quite getting it.
What is so hard to understand in this scenario?

[EASY MONEY]

Just how many new agentcies will it take to monitor this program and at what cost? Who do you think is going to pay for those agentcies, One guess....... you in taxes. Do not for one second believe that only people with money will.

[Crystal]

This government run health care is not what the people want. With the bailout of the auto industry and the banks, and the cap and trade bill, there is nothing left to spend. Our childrens, children are going to be paying for our national debt. Times are hard yes, but I see first hand everyday, how people just spend their money stupidly. How the elderly have to choice buying food to eat or paying for their meds. Because they can not afford both. I do not beleive that the government is going to be able to run a health care program when they can not run the Medicare and Medicaid program now. I for one refuse to allow the government to have a say in my health care needs. That should be left up to my doctor not a panel of business men and women!

[Jack Flannigan]

This bill has nothing to do with health CARE, it has much to do with health COSTS. Health CARE will remain the same or lessen, it will not become any better due to this bill. Health COSTS will be shifted to the broad based tax paying citizens to cover the inclusion of millions of uninsured. We indeed need reform but this bill does not address sustainable reform, it passes the buck onto many people who are quite pleased with their health coverage and care. When our elected servents understand that this is yet another government program doomed to fail AND add to the federal time bomb deficit then we can have a usefull talk and civil town hall meetings. As Tom posted on Aug.11, beware (both parties) and proceed at your own risk if you support this bill as written.