There are at least three reasons:

1. This is a manufactured crisis.
2. Voters know they are being lied to.
3. Voters know they were being ignored.

1. This is a manufactured crisis. Life expectancy is at an all-time high. Infant mortality is at an all-time low. The very small differences in infant mortality between us and certain Scandinavian countries may have more to do with the way we practice obstetrics than anything else. Defensive medicine, doctor convenience, and patient convenience have made the number of late pre-term births (between 34 and 38 weeks) skyrocket in the US. We need to change the way doctors practice medicine, especially the way they attend pregnancy. Adopting a national healthcare system will make these stats far WORSE, not better.

There was no crisis in healthcare. There are some problems. There are a few things that could be improved. We do need tort reform. We need greater portability. We need high-risk pools, and provisions for those with pre-existing conditions. But even taken collectively, these do not amount to a crisis. Democrats have talked themselves into believing that this is their issue and that delivering on national healthcare reform will make the grateful voters keep them in office for decades into the future. Dreams die hard.

2. Voters know they are being lied to. The President keeps asserting that he does not want a national health care system – while his advisors and those who crafted the bill have been candid that they INTEND to create a national health care system. Candidate Obama was candid a year ago in admitting that he favored a government-run, single-payer system. When this is pointed out, and the video of Obama stating his position is played, critics of the health care reform bill are accused of lying and distorting the president’s position. Note to the spin doctors: This only increases the outrage of voters. You’re not only lying to us, when we point it out, you accuse US of lying. And you’re puzzled why we’re angry?

3. Voters know they were being ignored. If Obama & Pelosi & Reid had gotten their way, there would have been NO opportunity for townhall meetings. Obama wanted this done by August 1st. Pelosi & Reid wanted this done by August 1st. They were ignoring the voters. They wish we would sit down, shut up, and let the central planners implement the most massive transformation of the American economy imaginable. We know what they were trying to do.

And now, the Democrats display a bit of faux outrage because they are being shouted at in a townhall meeting? And they’re puzzled because we’re angry?

Democrats who want to have a prayer of retaining their seat in congress will have to make a decision to buck their party leadership and the steamroller now. Those who don’t will face voters who are even ANGRIER in November, 2010.

PS: Here’s a link to the full-text of the bill (H.R.3200) online at the official US Government website, thomas.gov. The page I’m linking to has divided the bill up into sections with links that let you jump to a particular section without downloading the full 1,017 page .pdf file. Though I recommend that step to everyone as well. READ THE BILL.