Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

To the Editor:

Re “Democrats Seem Set to Go Alone on a Health Bill” (front page, Aug. 19):

I’m glad that Democrats are waking up to the fact that the Republicans will vote against any bill favored by President Obama.

The Republicans cite the opposition in the town hall meetings, which they themselves have engineered by sending e-mail messages to their supporters telling them where and when to attend the town halls. The majority of Americans voted for President Obama and the Democrats, in large part because they want good health care for all Americans. The Republicans have one goal—to defeat President Obama.

I have excellent health insurance, because I have Medicare, but how can I stand by and watch while people suffer ill health and die because they do not have health insurance?

Beverly Kaiser
South Yarmouth, Mass., Aug. 19, 2009

Note from KBJ: Something has been puzzling me about the health-care debate, but I haven't addressed it until now. Suppose it's true that "Republicans" have "engineered" opposition at town hall meetings "by sending e-mail messages to their supporters telling them where and when to attend the town halls." What is this supposed to show? Are people robots? Would somebody go to a town-hall meeting merely because he or she was told to do so by the Republican Party? Would somebody who went to a town-hall meeting say something he or she doesn't believe merely because he or she was told to do so by the Republican Party? I don't get it. Most things we do in life are organized. I ask my friends to meet me for a bike ride at a certain time and place. They can accept or reject my proposal. Am I missing something?