In response to one question, Specter said, "I believe the single-payer system should be on the table," and was enthusiastically applauded. A retired nurse then prefaced her question by saying, "If single-payer passes, I'll come out of retirement!" The issue seems to be government involvement and personal life intrusions.

An impassioned and frustrated man asked why--if sixty-three percent of the American people favor health care reform--can't sixty-three percent of the Congress pass the legislation. Specter replied, "We are going about it in a democratic way." There is that little word "we" again.

Maureen Benzig, retired, who formerly worked at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, said, "I would like to see a single-payer system and I was happy to hear Senator Specter say he like it on the table, but I support a public option if we can't get single payer." Benzig described a family member who is a physician and took a year off in order to support single payer. Her own doctors, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania also support single payer. People are passionate about this issue.