Proud Member of the Un-American Mob

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently called many of the Americans who were showing up at town hall meetings with their Congressmen as un-American. Other Democrat elected officials have described the crowds as "mobs". These citizens were actually exercising their first amendment rights of free speech and daring to laugh at, boo, jeer and yell at their elected officials when the official responded to questions and concerns about the proposed federal takeover of the health care system by parroting the democrat party line. Funny how in just a short period of time, Queen Nancy can have done an about face on such protests. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Pelosi said in January 2006 when anti-war protesters interrupted one of her town hall meeting, "It's always exciting. This is democracy in action. I'm energized by it, frankly." At another meeting where anti-war protesters interrupted the meeting in June 2007, her comment was "just go for it. I respect your enthusiasm."

Other than the obvious double standard, I think the Democrats are missing the boat on this whole issue. I think the protests are just a tip of the iceberg with a general mistrust of government. The general populace recognizes there are issues with health care, but you don't have to turn the system on its head to solve those problems. They have seen the centrist rhetoric from candidate Obama turn into hard left policy of President Obama. They have seen massive "bailouts", the takeover of large parts of the auto industry a "stimulus" bill that hasn't stimulated anything. The economy, despite all assurances, is not improving because of the government. Huge government spending increases and huge deficit increases will not and cannot get us out of the problem, and the health care bill is going to cost us a trillion more dollars over the next 10 years. And no government program ever comes in under budget. Look at the Cash for Clunkers. One billion dollars was supposed to last for 5 or 6 months of the program, it lasted a week and they went back and gave the program an additional 2 billion dollars.

Despite claims of savings to the contrary, no one has been able to point out where any cost savings will come from. Most experts are saying the only way we can cut costs is from rationing of care. In other words, a government bureaucrat will determine that this illness can only get this treatment, or if you are over 65 forget about a heart valve replacement. These are just examples, I know there are more out there. While it isn't explicitly in the bill, that is about the only logical conclusion one can make.

Put simply the majority of Americans that I am seeing at these town hall meetings are fed up with the way Washington works. We've seen too many instances of backroom deals cut on legislation in the middle of the night to trust what the liberals are saying about what is in and not in the health care bill. Despite claims to the contrary, there is video evidence of Barack Obama supporting a single payer government health care system. He claims his proposal doesn't do that. However, when government becomes involved, the cost of doing business for the insurance companies will increase dramatically. The rules and regulations they follow will become staggering. In the end many of them will simply get out of the health insurance business, leaving the "public" option as the only option. Thus while not explicit in the bill is the most logical outcome a couple of years down the line.

Funny thing is, all the "mob" activity is taking place at the Democrat town hall meetings. The Republican meetings where the representatives are sympathetic to the concerns of the citizens are being described as crowded but polite. Maybe it is the condescension that is so typical of the left. They know what is right for everyone and anyone who disagrees with them is a lunatic.

As Thomas Jefferson once said, "What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?" So Mrs. Pelosi, sign me up as one of the Un-American mob. I don't want government to take over my health care and I'll tell anyone including elected officials exactly why.