EVERETT – Congressman Rick Larsen touched off his town hall-style forum on health care reform with just a few comments this evening before asking the crowd for their views.
“The way I tend to run these town hall meetings is it’s more about you and less about me,” Larsen said.
About 2,000 people are crowded into the ballpark at Everett Memorial Stadium for the forum. These types of town halls have attracted large and often boisterous crowds across the country.
Earlier this afternoon, hundreds of people gathered in the parking lot outside the stadium, chanting slogans and waving signs at each other. Both sides mingled together, trying to drown each other out.
The hubbub from the crowd died down about a half hour before the gates opened.
Both opponents and supporters of health care reform calmly filed in. They are cheering each other during comments and have remained civil.
Larry Deland of Snohomish said before the forum that he hoped to make his voice heard in opposition to the proposed health care reform bills.
“I’m 69 years old and, from what I’ve read, I believe it will be the government take over of the health care industry and I will be screwed,” Deland said. “We just can’t afford this.”
Betsy Hunt of Lake Stevens said she believed change is needed, saying there are just too many people without health care.
“I think if we have better health care we will be a stronger country,” Hunt said.
Some of the signs read: “Kill the Bill”; “Tax the rich fund health care”; “Elect a bunch of clowns your (sic) gonna have a circus.”
“Our biggest concern is the health care and how fast they’re trying to shove this through. What’s the hurry?”
– Nancy Smith, 77, of Lynnwood
“I’m out here because I would like to see everyone in this country get health care. We pay more for health care in this country and get less than any industrialized nation.”
– Albert Penta, 69, of Monroe
“They need to balance the budget first. We are broke in this country.”
– Kay Gunn, 72, Lynnwood
“I’m here because I want to see health care reform. I have been struggling with insurance and being a small business owner I can’t afford to offer insurance for my employees.”
– Marilyn Rosenberg, 44, of Everett
“I don’t want the government between me and my doctor. I don’t want this country to turn into a socialist country. The congressmen are not treating us as though they’re representing us anymore.”
– Bonita Allen, 68, Mill Creek
“I’ve lived in Canada and I felt the health care situation was just fine. I didn’t really have to stand in line or wait a long time.”
– Patricia Robertson, 62, of Seattle
“I’m just here to listen and hear what Rick has to say and questions that other people have. I’m an objective observer.”
– Nancy Olsen, 71, of Edmonds
“I’ve seen too many people die whose insurance didn’t cover the illness and the families had to bear the burden of arguing with the insurance companies.”
– Marshia Armstrong, 65, Stanwood
“I’m standing up for the rights in the Constitution. We’re not communist or socialist. I’ve been there, I’ve lived there and I don’t want to go back to that.”
– Heike Kaindl, 68, Mill Creek
“I think it shouldn’t be government run. It should be done on the individual level. It’s a privacy issue.”
– Jeb Stuart, 42, Gold Bar
“I’m a concerned citizen about the abrupt turn toward Nazi-like health care.”
– Ted Davis, 40, Snohomish
“I think this is a really important issue we’ve been struggling with in our country for many decades. This is a good opportunity to have some intelligent debate about it. There’s no reason for anyone in this country to go bankrupt because of illness.”
– Sue Sivyer, 44, Bothell
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
