BLOOMINGBURG – Approximately 100 people came out to the Mamakating Town Park last Thursday evening for an informal "Town Hall" meeting. They were there to discuss concerns over the direction of the United States government. Organizer Peter LaBuda, the brother of Mamakating Justice Frank LaBuda, said that the reason for the meeting was to "address common concerns among American citizens."

"The reason we're all here," LaBuda said, "[is that] everything's crazy. The world is upside down. The government is upside down, whether it's local, state, or federal."

LaBuda, who is now a nuclear engineer at Indian Point in Croton-on-Harmon, said that he remembers the economic struggles his father encountered as he was growing up, and that a lot of people are struggling today.

He also stressed that the meeting wasn't partisan in nature, and that a number of people had approached him, as he was handing out fliers for the event, stating that they are "left of center" and felt they would not be welcome. LaBuda said that he told these people that all are welcome, and that the meeting was really about sharing ideas. LaBuda cited the fact that the founders of this country had a number of disagreements, and that they sat down and hashed them out.

The meeting was then turned over to the various scheduled speakers. Attorney Cheryl Beverson spoke in favor of Arizona's new immigration law, a law that has generated a great deal of controversy over the past few months, as it requires police officers to question anyone whom they feel might be an illegal immigrant. Critics of the law say that it will unfairly target people of Hispanic origin, many of whom are citizens or here legally.

Sullivan County Sheriff Michael Schiff, who appeared at the meeting dressed in civilian clothing, said that the sheriff is one of the few offices in which a law enforcement agency is governed by an elected official. Schiff said that he believes that this makes the sheriff's office more responsive to the citizenry.

"The sheriff is the only police administrator in this country for a police agency that answers directly to the people," Schiff said. "Every four years I have to reapply for my job."

Schiff said that the appointed positions for law enforcement leadership means that these individuals serve at the whim of the elected official who appoints them, and that this means they often receive protection from their political patrons.

"I'm a constitutionally elected sheriff, so I answer directly to you," Schiff told the audience. "I think that's very important, and I think there should be more of that."

George Phillips, the Republican who is challenging Congressman Maurice Hinchey for the 22nd district congressional seat, talked about how Washington's bureaucracy has gotten out of control.

"There are as many people working for the department of agriculture, as there are farmers in this country," Phillips said. "Is this what our founding fathers intended?"

Phillips said that he also believes that the approximate one-percent of the federal budget that goes to foreign aid needs to be rethought.

"It seems like there's money going to all these things that aren't in the constitution," Phillips said.

There were also several speakers from area "Tea Party" organizations who spoke at the meeting.