As someone who works in public health, I am thrilled that health care reform has been signed into law. Do I understand it all? No. Do I expect everyone to be happy? No. But there is one thing I do expect, regardless of anyone’s political beliefs:

Respect. Respect for the process. Respect for people. Just plain respect.

Good lord, people. Since when is it acceptable to spit on members of Congress — or on anyone, for that matter? (If you spit on me, I will go Rahm Emanuel on you.) Why is it OK to make death threats? When did it become all right to vandalize the personal property of someone who voted against your personal wishes? And let’s not pretend members of Congress are simply victims here: What is it about Barack Obama being POTUS that makes people think everything is Casual Friday, and it’s fine to start shouting accusations, out of turn, on the House floor?

It’d be entertaining . . . if it weren’t real. If only.