Tomorrow: "Let Portsmouth health care town hall be a model for the nation"

[rvablue]

Seacoast Media Group and the Portsmouth Herald had the great privilege to host Sen. Barack Obama for a forum on health care in April 2007, when the candidate said he wanted to learn what local people liked and disliked about the current system. Area residents gave him an earful.

In fact, when our two-hour event went beyond three hours Obama's campaign staff turned to the editor of this paper and said: “Can't you do anything to get him out of there?” But the candidate had no interest in leaving until everyone was heard.

The senator heard testimony from across the spectrum, very much in keeping with what you are seeing now in polling numbers across the nation. Those with quality insurance funded in large part by employers were relatively happy, those without insurance were frightened and those who were underinsured and had suffered a major illness shared horror stories. Businesses large and small had deep concerns about the ever-rising cost of providing employees with quality health insurance.

We took it for granted at our forum that people would treat their neighbors as they would want to be treated themselves because that's the way we do things here in Portsmouth, on the Seacoast and all across New Hampshire. We have a centuries-long tradition of direct democracy and we know that the best way to make wise decisions is to hear all sides of an issue and then slowly, carefully and respectfully deliberate. We know that shouting, bullying and grandstanding are merely sound and fury signifying nothing.

*snip*

We have seen coverage of health care town halls in other parts of the country that have degenerated into the worst kind of political debate, where violence and ignorance get the upper hand and nothing is accomplished, nothing learned. While the White House hasn't yet said directly why the president is coming to Portsmouth for his forum, we'd like to think it is because he has been here, has discussed health care with area citizens and found us to be informed and respectful of those who hold differing opinions.


http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090810/OPINION/908109979/-1/NEWSMAP

Loved the tone of this. I wish local papers everywhere would print a call-to-civilty like this.

Well done! :patriot:

[Wednesdays]

1. K&R

:kick:

[RBInMaine]

2. People in the hall are ticketed. Decorum will be enforced. Expect protesters outside. The WINGNUTS

will be there. My hope is our side will be outside in LARGER numbers than the WINGNUTS !

[Phx_Dem]

3. Portsmouth sounds like a pretty nice place

where folks can disagree respectfully.