Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009

Seeking forums on health care

We can certainly understand the reluctance on the part of our local congressmen to host town hall meetings, especially one on the current health care bill.

It's an issue that hits us emotionally, financially and physically.

U.S. Rep. John Shimkus a Collinsville Republican, has never done town hall meetings because he prefers one-on-one discussions.

U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, a Democrat from Belleville, said he conducted about 400 open public meetings but stopped a few years ago because special interest activists were showing up and monopolizing them.

It's a legitimate concern: Will the town hall meeting allow constituents' voices to be heard or just give hardened views a public airing?

While we share the concern, we believe the public forums are worthwhile. They are not just a chance for the congressmen to learn, but for the public to hear and help make informed opinions.

There also is great value in standing up amid your peers and having an opportunity to be heard, as Mary Ann Fieser of Hillsboro, Mo., said during a forum there.

"If they don't let us vent our frustrations out, they will have a revolution," Fieser said.

That forum in Hillsboro was hosted by U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat who was early on board the Obama health care bandwagon. McCaskill showed that a crowd of 1,500 with angry voices can be managed.

She admonished the crowd for being rude, kept control, made her points and heard theirs.

We're glad Shimkus and Costello are against the Obama bill for reasons of complexity and excessive government control. Our readers in this public forum have pointed out that our federal government has fouled up cash for clunkers, the digital TV transition and potentially GM.

They, as do we, question the government's ability to manage something as personal and essential as our health care.