Because there was no additional room at the Thousand Oaks Library for the Aug. 12 town meeting on healthcare reform, I decided to stay in front of the building where a crowd had gathered to listen to four surgeons speak from atop a bench.

I was eager to hear intelligent, educated and informed individuals discuss this important issue.

However, I was shocked at what soon emerged from the doctors’ mouths. The surgeons from Westlake introduced themselves and began to criticize how “they” —the Democrats who put on the forum—“liberally gather here” yet “do not let the opposition speak,” at which time a supporter yelled, “Because they’re cowards!”

The ignorance began to flow and the angry mob clapped, chanted, cheered and sang, “Vote him out! Vote him out!” referring to President Obama.

A woman paraded a bright Tshirt around which read, “Socialism is shared misery.”

At one unexpected moment, the most vocal surgeon emotionally declared that “aliens” are responsible for our current mess of a healthcare system, at which point a man in the crowd, who apparently felt offended by the doctor’s racist scapegoating, charged at him.

A police officer took the disheveled man away, and the crowd cheered, “Let’s hear it for the police!”

The doctors and the yes-men in the crowd continued, at which point a quiet, respectful man in the group expressed a point challenging the anti-reformers and screams of “Go home! Just go home!” were angrily directed at him. I had quickly heard enough of the fear and anger, and had seen enough of the ridiculous manifestations of a mob mentality, so I left.

As I walked away from the surreal scene, I quietly wondered if the Westlake surgeons are a bit nervous that their cushy lifestyles are at stake as they spoke to their supporters, using silly scare tactics, which the angry mob hungrily consumed and then clapped, expressing their need for more details about “how bad it will get.” I sympathize with the fearful and the pessimistic.

President Obama was elected because people wanted change, and hopefully, change will ensue. Tina Aschenbrenner Thousand Oaks