At Congressional town hall meetings across the nation, constituents are turning out in overwhelming numbers to protest Obamacare. Although these town halls are often overcrowded and have been met with violence from unions, constituents are participating in the democratic process by voicing their concerns. Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Reid fired back at the rising percentage of Americans who disapprove of Obamacare. He accused demonstrators of trying to “sabotage” the democratic process:
 
“These are nothing more than destructive efforts to interrupt a debate that we should have, and are having,” Reid said. “They are doing this because they don’t have any better ideas… It’s really simple: they’re taking their cues from talk show hosts, Internet rumor-mongerers… and insurance rackets.”
 
Oh dear, apparently Senator Reid has found out the far-right conspiracy: If an American takes the time to speak against government-run health care, she must be paying too much attention to the news or be an instrument of the insurance industry.
 
Reid is wrong. Americans are protesting government-run health care because there are “better ideas” than increasing the federal deficit. Health care reform ought to encourage Americans to save money for medical expenditures. Reforms that expand access to HSAs will ensure that Americans have those medicals savings.
 
There is no central-organizing institution. There is no conspiracy. There are only Americans who want the government to leave them alone.