I believe what Sen. Arlen Spector and Health and Human Services Director Kathy Sebelius experienced at a town hall meeting last week in Pennsylvania is the tip of the iceberg.

I am more persuaded every day that there will be a taxpayer revolt in this country, and very soon.

The two were going on about the need to rush through the president’s health care plan, and that did not set well with the people in the room who began shouting them down. One woman asked if Congress would agree to having the same plan as the one being offered. As they left and walked across the lawn, the crowd followed them shouting unfriendly remarks.

First, let me say I think members of Congress and members of the president’s cabinet should be treated with respect, and allowed to speak.

But secondly, I can tell you, Americans are starting to feel disenfranchised. And when Americans feel disenfranchised, they tend to not worry so much about being reasonable. They tend to want to rebel.

I believe that a taxpayer revolt is coming. I think the recent Tea Parties are nothing compared to what will happen if we continue on the slippery slope of government-run health care, auto industry, financial institutions, etc.

It used to be thought by elitist members of Congress that if you gave people a free check, made sure they got commodities, and equipped them with a medical card, they would sit down, shut up, and continue to vote for them.

Times they are a’ changin’. More and more, people are refusing to buy into the attempt by the federal government to continue to wedge us apart by using terms such as “upper class,” “middle class,” “upper middle class,” etc. The attempt by the federal government to divide and conquer us will not work.

There is one thing that John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan had in common. They both believed if you cut taxes and allow people to keep more of their own money, there will be enough revenue to run the government and with a surplus to boot.

I would like to close this commentary with a quote from one of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln:

“You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

“You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

“You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

“You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.

“You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

“You cannot build character and courage by taking away people’s initiative and independence.

“You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.”

FRANK LEWIS may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232.