Fear and Fury: What’s behind town hall tensions?

The Ridgedale Library auditorium doesn't often draw a standing-room-only crowd.

But with 20 minutes to go before the start of a health care town hall meeting there last week, every one of the 150 seats was taken. Throngs, some still in work boots, others in suits, lined the walls or found a patch of carpet. Some lugged copies of the 1,000-page health care bill, the margins marked with comments or questions.

As the meeting began, some had only technical questions. Others came to vent. The crowd erupted in applause when one man decried health care mandates as "socialistic" and "un-American."

Across the Twin Cities, and the country, voices are rising in anger, fear and confusion over what would be the biggest change to the nation's health care in generations. People are shouting down others; jamming Capitol Hill switchboards to voice support or concern; sending threatening letters to lawmakers, even hanging one in effigy.

The debate also is exacerbating the divide on other problems facing the nation, from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to the banking bailout, the economy and even racial equality. On Friday, outside Rep. Keith Ellison's Minneapolis office, debate over health care suddenly turned into a standoff on race. "The real deal is you don't want black folks to get what you got," yelled the Rev. Jerry McAfee. A crowd of white picketers circled the preacher. "You're the racist," a woman yelled. The fracas only ended when a police car arrived, lights flashing.

Is this mob rule, or democracy in action? A passing frenzy, or evidence of a newly engaged populace that will be a political force when Washington confronts health care this fall?


Source