New Seniors

The tide changed last year when in location after location overflow crowds of people showed up chanting and holding signs, all with a desire to be seen and heard by those who were soon to cast their votes for or against health care reform. Supporters of the bill were outnumbered at first, but soon political organizers arrived and began to drown out the opposition visually and vocally. This political tactic proved effective, since the town hall meetings ended up on the news on a daily basis.

The folks at home saw what the cameras saw instead of the reality of the various gatherings. First hand observations in Southern California, for instance, showed that those arriving prior to the start of the town hall meeting were primarily local residents, mostly 50 and older, armed with homemade signs. Some supported the bill, which at the time was a single-pay plan, but there were about twice as many against the legislation. The crowds lined up across from each other cheering and jeering as group leaders worked up their constituents. Emotions ran high, but people were generally well behaved.

Minutes before the session was to formally begin, crowds of younger people brought in from outside the area appeared carrying professionally printed signs. These pro-health care supporters pushed and shoved their way into the anti-legislation crowd waving their signs and shouting as the people moved out of their way. The TV cameras picked up the action after the infiltration was completed, thereby giving those at home the impression that many more attendees were for rather than against the reform measure.

The Congressman holding the town hall meeting did not come prepared to listen. Instead, he assembled a group of “experts” all of whom were going to promote various aspects of the bill with the politician closing the session with a final sales message. But the crowd would have none of this. They realized if they didn’t force the issue, the whole thing would end up as a political PR event. While they didn’t get clear answers, the anti-bill folks did register their points and some of this was picked up on TV.

So what’s the lesson to be learned? New Seniors must insist that their representatives hold town hall meetings throughout the summer recess so the politicians know what we want. The economy, government spending, taxes, Social Security, repealing the health care bill, Medicare cuts and other specific issues that must be addressed. Most politicians will want to hide, so write letters, organize a phone campaign or show up at their local office with a group of friends to show support for town hall meetings. New Seniors will cast about 30% of the votes in November, don’t let the elected ones forget this. If they are not willing to listen and respond through a public forum, vote them out.

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