August proved that thousands of voices uniting as one are an effective communication tool. This past month democracy has been on display here in the 6th District and across the country as people packed town halls wrote letters and jammed phone lines to express their thoughts on the future of the nations health care system.
During my 25 years in Congress I have never seen anything like it. I knew it was going to be different this year when an estimated 500 people showed up at my first meeting in Marquez a town with a population of just 232. (Normally I would be happy to see 500 people show up at all my meetings combined.)
The large crowds continued to pack town halls in Lovelady Mansfield Kennedale Arlington and Wortham. Total attendance this year was close to 5000.
As I looked out across the meetings I didnt see groups of people organized by special interest groups I saw citizens concerned not only with the future of the health care system but with the future of their country. They are worried that the federal government is overstepping its bounds and spending at an unsustainable rate.
Each crowd was respectful but engaged. I would say 90 to 95 percent of attendees were against the Democrats plan for government to take over the health care system. They shared their opinions with signs applause and personal stories - including the sage advice of one man who stood up at the meeting in Marquez and declared that Congress needs to be careful because you cant unscramble an egg!"
I was also amazed by the amount of people who bypassed the political spin and took the time to examine the bill themselves. A man at the meeting in Wortham spent two days downloading the 1000 page bill using his dial-up internet connection so he could read it for himself.
His final conclusion mirrored mine this bill rations care raises taxes and eliminates jobs.
I hope that people left the town halls knowing that Republicans believe in real heath care reform. What we cant and wont support is the radical government take over being advanced by the Democrats.
Their plan includes personal mandates employer mandates and creates dozens of new government agencies and boards like the Health Benefits Advisory Committee and Comparative Effectiveness Research Commission. I believe that ObamaCare will ultimately lead a one-size-fits-all top-down bureaucracy-laden plan that basically guarantees that the private insurance system - that most people like - is extinct in 7 to 10 years. I cant vote for something like that.
Republicans believe in increased access to care; making insurance available to those who want it but cant afford it; reducing costs; and increasing transparency in the system. You can learn more by visiting my website http://joebarton.house.gov.
I was truly inspired by the passion I saw from people at each of the town halls - from the persistence of the man in Wortham to the dedication of those who took time off work or away from their families to attend. Seeing that many citizens engaged and getting active in the political process is great and it gives me an extra boost of confidence knowing that when I head back to Washington I am fighting for the people who elected me.
I encourage people to keep writing me keep calling my office and keep showing up at my public meetings because I am listening and your opinion matters!
August proved that thousands of voices uniting as one are an effective communication tool. This past month democracy has been on display here in the 6th District and across the country as people packed town halls wrote letters and jammed phone lines to express their thoughts on the future of the nations health care system.
During my 25 years in Congress I have never seen anything like it. I knew it was going to be different this year when an estimated 500 people showed up at my first meeting in Marquez a town with a population of just 232. (Normally I would be happy to see 500 people show up at all my meetings combined.)
The large crowds continued to pack town halls in Lovelady Mansfield Kennedale Arlington and Wortham. Total attendance this year was close to 5000.
As I looked out across the meetings I didnt see groups of people organized by special interest groups I saw citizens concerned not only with the future of the health care system but with the future of their country. They are worried that the federal government is overstepping its bounds and spending at an unsustainable rate.
Each crowd was respectful but engaged. I would say 90 to 95 percent of attendees were against the Democrats plan for government to take over the health care system. They shared their opinions with signs applause and personal stories - including the sage advice of one man who stood up at the meeting in Marquez and declared that Congress needs to be careful because you cant unscramble an egg!"
I was also amazed by the amount of people who bypassed the political spin and took the time to examine the bill themselves. A man at the meeting in Wortham spent two days downloading the 1000 page bill using his dial-up internet connection so he could read it for himself.
His final conclusion mirrored mine this bill rations care raises taxes and eliminates jobs.
I hope that people left the town halls knowing that Republicans believe in real heath care reform. What we cant and wont support is the radical government take over being advanced by the Democrats.
Their plan includes personal mandates employer mandates and creates dozens of new government agencies and boards like the Health Benefits Advisory Committee and Comparative Effectiveness Research Commission. I believe that ObamaCare will ultimately lead a one-size-fits-all top-down bureaucracy-laden plan that basically guarantees that the private insurance system - that most people like - is extinct in 7 to 10 years. I cant vote for something like that.
Republicans believe in increased access to care; making insurance available to those who want it but cant afford it; reducing costs; and increasing transparency in the system. You can learn more by visiting my website http://joebarton.house.gov.
I was truly inspired by the passion I saw from people at each of the town halls - from the persistence of the man in Wortham to the dedication of those who took time off work or away from their families to attend. Seeing that many citizens engaged and getting active in the political process is great and it gives me an extra boost of confidence knowing that when I head back to Washington I am fighting for the people who elected me.
I encourage people to keep writing me keep calling my office and keep showing up at my public meetings because I am listening and your opinion matters!
