To the editor:

Along with an overflowing crowd, I attended the forum about healthcare reform presented by The League of Women Voters in Coupeville last night, Aug. 6. Mendy McLean-Stone chaired the discussion and wrangled the crowd, providing a firm hand that allowed for the evening to proceed without the slide into chaos recently witnessed on the news at other town hall meetings around the country. It wasn’t easy, and I say bravo for that, Mendy.

We need health insurance reform in this country. Everyone on the panel agreed with this basic premise.

What type of reform and how much is another matter. For the first time in my life, I do not have health insurance because I am out of work. It has brought this issue into sharp focus for me. We all know aspects of the healthcare system do not work, but how to get to common ground seems next to impossible.

I was very impressed with Rep. Rick Larsen, U.S. Rep 2nd District, and his detailed knowledge of the various bills in motion. Sally Hintz, representing Sen. Maria Cantwell, was very well informed, and Barbara Bailey, State Rep. 10th District was eloquent when making her points regarding this issue. Everyone else on the panel was well-informed and provided thoughtful insight.

Most of us came to listen, and at times that was very difficult.

A group sitting behind me and on my right kept up a continuous running commentary. Cheering views that agreed with theirs, yet loudly guffawing or snorting derisively at any comment that didn’t fit into their belief system. It wasn’t hard to see which side of the aisle they occupied.

What I don’t understand is their need to be mocking and belligerent at a different point of view. I didn’t agree with a lot of what Barbara Bailey had to say, but didn’t feel the need to snort and mock her words.

When did our society leave behind the basic tenants of our founding fathers?

A friend of mine describes the Republicans of today as Repugs. The pundits on the left call them the party of NO. I see them in relation to a pop culture saying of many years ago, “doesn’t play well with others.” No wonder their party is in a shambles. This element of the Republican party has become embarrassing. John McCain recently addressed this issue with a voice of reason. We need more of the other side of the Republican party to stand up and ask them to return to the process set forth by our founding fathers that encourages discussion but decries violence and intimidation.

We should have lively discussions. What is happening now is a mission by a small segment of the right wing to disrupt the democratic process by interfering with town hall meetings that were designed to encourage debate. Can we leave behind the bully mentality that tries to intimidate?

Several people left the meeting loudly in protest at points made by Rep. Rick Larsen. Or maybe they left because they realized they would not be able to disrupt and shut down the meeting.

Based on their parting comments and signs they were carrying, it wasn’t hard to figure out where they were coming from. This country is based on free speech.

Does that right only extend if the speech is agreeable to you? Will you resort to violence if things don’t go your way?

We were lucky in Coupeville. There was loud dissent, but no violence. The panel was able, for the most part, to explain their positions and respond to comments made by other members of the group.

There was no stopping loud comments and derisive booing on sensitive issues for those who follow the teachings of right wing talk show hosts who promote the politics of hate.

One particular outburst from this part of the crowd followed Rep. Larsen’s answer to a question about the HIPAA portion of one of the House bills. He waited a moment for the loud response to die down, then poignantly stood up to them and said, “READ THE BILL. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Glen Beck are wrong on this.”

Based on the uproar this initiated, this part of the group isn’t interested in being better informed. They would rather follow these hatemongers than ferret out the truth. These talk show hosts are only interested in better ratings. Their inflammatory hate speech is designed to incite. Aren’t we better than that? Shouldn’t we be better than that?

My personal hope is that President Obama will stop trying to achieve compromise and exercise the Democratic majority on this and other issues. We have tried to play nice, but the time for that is over. Half of this country was against the war from day one, yet it was shoved down our throats anyway. The Obama administration inherited a $1.3 trillion deficit, and an economy on the brink of collapse. The Republicans were in charge for eight years and look where that left us. Boy, I am so ready for change.

There was comedic relief, at least for me.

One woman who was unable to enter the hall after the fire marshal said we had reached full capacity, leaned against the doorway for the first part of the panel discussion. Slowly she inched her way into the room until she was almost adjacent to the panel. With every word said by Barbara Bailey, she would nod yes, and indicate a thumbs up, and smile. With every word said by Rick Larsen, she would shake her head no, make faces, and act as if she was astonished at what he was saying. Her mannerisms became more and more exaggerated as we came to the end of the discussion, and I felt like I was watching a SNL skit with a mime mocking one side and fawning over the other in a comical way. With her blond curls bobbing with each movement, it was quite amusing. On several occasions, I had to stifle a laugh.

Of course, this is not a laughing matter. Change is needed because the healthcare system has serious flaws. Health insurance should be a right, not a privilege. I took having health insurance for granted. Now that my circumstances have changed, I see this issue from a very different perspective. None of the bills currently pending are perfect, but we need to begin to address these issues with intelligence and education. Not with violence and intimidation.

Thank you to the League of Women Voters for providing the venue for this discussion, and thank you again, Mendy, for keeping the lively discourse under control.

Cindy Arnold

Freeland