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  I was at the health care reform Town Hall meeting being given by Congressman Sam Farr last night, an what an event.  As I was biking up High Street, I noticed a steady line of traffic heading in the same direction.  The hot setting sun glared down as I pedaled hard to get my heavy bicycle up the incline (my own insurance plan, stay healthy), and I wondered what lay ahead.  I had seen the footage from other congressional town hall (brawl) meetings with irate citizens screaming out accusations of socialism, communism, fascism, and the other isms as beleaguered congressmen wondered to themselves if it was too late for a career change.  I was expecting a certain amount of drama, but I was hoping things wouldn't get so out of hand that it would require a visit from the riot police.

When I finally arrived at the First Congregational Church just after 6PM, a large crowd had already assembled.  The Sentinel says 800 showed up, but it seemed like more.  There were people with signs, some were standing behind card tables and gathering signatures.  The people supporting some kind of reform outnumbered those against, but the anti crowd was vocal. 

The curch was filled to capacity, people were standing in the rear vistibule, and more people were outside trying to look through the windows or outside listening to the radio simulcast.  I stood in the vestibule and tried to get a better look as Congressman Farr made his presenation to occasional simultaneous cheers and boos as he made each important point.  The mood was a little tense, but also exiting as democracy was in action in all its ugly beauty.  I also sensed anticipation in the air.  Most people feel some kind of change is about to happen and they want a say in how it's carried out.

As the night went on, people gradually left and I was able to move into the area behind the pews.  People lined up to ask questions, most had points to make that led to more of a rhetorical question than an actual one.  All people were impassioned.  Congressman Farr even made a few funny remarks in his responses.

Congeressman Farr stayed until 8:30 to answer questions, half an hour later than scheduled, and concluded by saying how, unlike a lot of his colleagues, he loves town hall meetings.  He also said that the number of letters, phone calls and emails in support of the proposed legislation numbered about 4,200, those opposed numberd 295.