Political frustration spawned by the issue of national health care is sweeping America. Town hall meetings have dissolved into chaos. Politicians are devising creative alternatives to public appearances. Commotion drowns out dialogue.
In Florida last week, confusion erupted in the Tampa suburb of Ybor City, where nearly 1,500 people attended a meeting to speak with Democratic State Rep. Betty Reed and U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor on August 6. Castor had barely finished her opening remarks when the meeting descended into mayhem, her words drowned out by the crowd’s chants: “You work for us,'’ “Tyranny, tyranny,'’ and “Read the bill.”
