Conservative Rage
And
What's It Really About?
And
Where Are The Social Scientists When You Need Them?

So, many folks (e.g.) have been asking whether the spittle-flecked rage at the health-care town halls is really about health care...or about something else.

Some have suggested that it's really a consequence of the fact that a segment of American conservatives will not accept any Democratic president as legitimate. Some have suggested that it's an expression of racism. Some have suggested that it's a generic expression of fear about big government.

But: isn't this an answerable question?

Perhaps it's not important enough to address seriously. But if we were really interested in the answer, wouldn't it be fairly easy (as such things go) to figure out what's going on here? Wouldn't it be possible to do the requisite surveys and interviews and figure this out?

I mean, it's not the easiest thing in the world, but it's not rocket science.

We've got zillions of social scientists and, let's face it, not all of them are engaged in research that one could, with a straight face, describe as crucial.

Is it unreasonable to ask that some energy be directed toward figuring out WTF is really going on with the health care screamers? I mean, eight years of genuine threats to our democracy, and nobody raises a finger or a voice. A few months of trying to get poor people some insurance, and all of a sudden we've got threats about armed revolution. I'm really, really curious about what is really driving this.