Voter fury

Democrats' plan to significantly expand the federal government's role in the health care industry -- legislation that would pave the way for a public sector takeover of American medicine -- has inspired passionate activism among much of the populace, and outright panic in others.

Some members of Congress seem genuinely surprised that citizen engagement -- from both advocates of a nationalized "single-payer" system and defenders of what's left of private-sector health care -- has occasionally turned rowdy and rude.

"This mob ... did not come just to be heard, but to deny others the right to be heard," said Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, of demonstrators in his state who shouted "Just say no!" to the House Democrats' proposed radical overhaul.

"I wouldn't be surprised if that's the harbinger of things to come," said Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., of an especially irritated audience in Philadelphia.

Indeed, that liberals have managed to draw out the country's silent majority is a clear sign of just how controversial their plans really are.

But what did they expect from voters when President Obama is urging them to hurry up and pass "reform" without debate? Outright submission?

Even now, with no vote expected until September at the earliest, lawmakers are reworking hundreds of pages of legislation in secret negotiations. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the No. 3 man in the upper chamber, has gone so far to warn that Democrats are prepared to use special "legislative procedures" to ensure speedy action. "These plans will likely be considered as a last resort, but they are on the table," he said without offering specifics.

Right now, many Americans are clearly angry that lawmakers are not being forthcoming with their plans. Many taxpayers sense that they're being ignored, and that they're about to be railroaded. This has infuriated them as much as any proposal to limit their health care choices and burden their offspring with trillions of dollars in additional debt.

However, this rage has scared many members of Congress into hiding. Few lawmakers -- especially Democrats -- are willing to schedule open, unscripted public forums and interact, in person, with their constituents in advance of the vote.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, the man who holds the power in moving any health care deal to the president's desk, has not yet scheduled any community meetings about health care reform. Reid spokesman Jon Summers said the senator's recess schedule includes next week's clean energy summit and an Aug. 26 luncheon sponsored by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Summers said additional public events would be announced soon, and that Sen. Reid has not been discouraged by public rancor over his party's health care proposals.

Good. Sen. Reid and the rest of Nevada's congressional delegation must make it a priority to meet with local taxpayers this month during their recess -- without screening and without charging admission.

One way to handle public hostility toward health care reform is to give the public more opportunities to vent. But if Sen. Reid and Democrats insist on smiling, shaking hands and saying they value voter concerns, all the while working feverishly behind closed doors to fulfill the statist wishes of their far-left base, then many members of the public will save their worst fury for Election Day.