Is this really how we want to carry on a debate about health care?
One of my dad’s favorite and often-repeated sayings is you can’t always expect adults to act like grown-ups. Tune into the latest round of health care town halls for exhibit A.
Over the last week, I’ve been amazed at the shouting, the anger, and the disrespect on display by people who are, frankly, too old to be throwing tantrums.
I’m not suggesting that health care reform isn’t an emotionally charged issue, or that it isn’t complex and sometimes confusing, or that everyone should agree with President Obama’s plan.
I understand that a significant number of Americans don’t support the idea of universal care, and however short-sided that position may be, I’m all for hearing differing opinions on a matter that will affect each of us.
But when folks grossly exaggerate aspects of a bill that hasn’t even been approved yet, or are more interested in hyperbole than honesty, their acrimony becomes the focus rather than any valid points they might have to offer. In fact, what’s happening at these “debates” on health care reform is that people are doing everything else but debating health care reform.
Irate individuals are using these forums to berate the president and to complain about where the country is heading — in their minds, down an irreversible path to total government control akin to 1984.
It’s madness really, because as our nation approaches a crossroads regarding health care, it’s in our best interests to act like adults. It’s counterproductive to go around bellowing like brats, brandishing handguns at public meetings, or spray painting people’s private property with swastikas when you don’t agree with them. We’re losing focus fast.
Our health care system is not sustainable. And unless we take the time to address it now, it’s going to implode. Refusing to examine what’s not working and what we can do better out of some misguided sense of fear is exactly what we can’t afford to do. Too many of us are uninsured or underinsured. And those of us with coverage are watching our costs increase.
So rather than giving air time to folks like Sarah Palin, who is intent on spreading misinformation about why a government health care option is “downright evil,” we should focus our efforts on pushing the discussion forward in a mature manner. Don’t we owe it to ourselves?
I realize I’m one of the lucky ones. I have health coverage, and I believe everyone else should, too. After I got sick, I learned firsthand just how crucial it is. But I also understand that universal care won’t be easy to accomplish. Concessions will have to be made to the bill currently before Congress, and we’ll have to figure out how to pay for it. Estimates are at $1 trillion over the next 10 years, a hefty sum indeed. But, according to the Congressional Budget Office, our nation is on track to spend $2.4 trillion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Clearly, we need to rethink our priorities. And while we’re at it, let’s rethink how we engage each other during televised meetings about the future of our nation’s heath.
We can start by putting on our grown-up panties.
11 Comments
August 13, 2009 at 12:52 pm
HOLLATCHA GIRL!
You already know I’m all over this one with a series of post.
What many of these people don’t realize is that they used the name of patriotism and politics as their proxy to promote the policies and practices that has systematically and continues to exclude people. None of these protesters really want to know about policy, it’s the pigmentation of the one promoting the policy they have a problem with if they are honest with themselves. Many don’t understand and refuse to listen to what the President has repeatedly said about healthcare.
I just hope the Democrats don’t cave in.
August 13, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Finally!
Thanks, Chana for addressing this madness in a reasonable way. These protests are not about health-care reform. They’re thinly-veiled racist rants against the president. Changing the health-care status quo is the equivalent of changing the way things used to be, i.e. when people knew their places. You’re not going to tell me that people are getting this riled up over health-care reform. It goes deeper than that. Americans must look like idiots to the rest of the world.
August 13, 2009 at 4:13 pm
The PIGMENTATION of the one who advocates SOCIALISM makes NO DIFFERENCE!!! I am WHITE but would NO PROBLEM whatsoever if CONDI or KEYES were President,, whoa ,,, what do ya know they are BLACK!!!! Kinda blows your RACIST CRAP that spews from the mouth of you LIB DEM MORONS!!!!!
The problem is NOT color it’s the FACT that barry is a SOCIALIST!!!!!!!!! GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!????
August 13, 2009 at 4:15 pm
It amazes me how childish and how easily some people allow themselves to be lead around by the nose. All the misinformation is again stirring folks up in a frenzy of fear. They use words like, “palling around with terrorists” and “death panel” to scare folks. Sarah Palin needs to go sit her a$$ down somewhere and read a book. All this scripted ranting has nothing to do with healthcare, but it’s more able not being happy with who was elected President. If they would just shut up, listen and then voice their opinions based on accurate information, maybe we can get somewhere.
August 13, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Tsk, tsk, Jim.
Your venomous e-mail suggests you’re working yourself up in a lather about a matter you apparently will NEVER understand. A debate about health-care reform has evolved into false claims of socialism and Nazism. Wait! Those were the same claims made during the campaign. The only misinformation missing is that the president is a Muslim. Wipe the foam from your mouth and dig deeper than what you hear on cable TV. These responses are not only from liberals. Condi and Keyes? Is that the best you can do?
August 14, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Ouch!
August 16, 2009 at 11:32 pm
The best I could to??!!!! LOL!!! They are LIGHT YEARS ahead of ole barry the Socialist, in Intelligence, Integrity, Character, Patriotism and being,,,REAL AMERICANS, unlike the IMPOSTER Socialist barry!!
August 13, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Great post Chana!
I too am concerned about the rage that has taken place at these town hall meetings. I am supportive of a healthy debate regarding healthcare reform but the anger some of these people have displayed is pretty wild. I am all for universal healthcare and insurance reform. But the Dems are losing this battle and I can’t help but feel that part of the reasoning is their fault.
The message and proposal was unclear from the beginning. That lack of focus allowed the Repubs to shape and form the debate around their talking points and blatant lies. It also doesn’t help that there are plenty of folks in Congress (Dems and Repubs) who are in the pockets of these insurance companies.
August 22, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Great post Chana. Healthcare Reform is necessary in order for Americans to have healthcare in the future which is what these “grown-ups” are not considering. Sacrifices have to be made by all (i.e. private citizens, pharmaceutical industry, insurers, doctors, device manufacturers, etc.) if we are going to have a future that includes healthcare without selling your first born in order to afford it. Many non-reformers believe the status quo is OK because they have insurance today. They should consider the day that he or she does not have coverage or adequate coverage. Reform is necessary and serious thought and a clear pathway needs to be provided which may minimize much of the noise we here today.
August 31, 2009 at 2:36 am
Wow! Very informative and nicely written. Great way for me to stay up to date with your post because i can hardly stand watching the news anymore, especially when they are trying to beat up on President Obama….
Great job Chana!!!
September 4, 2009 at 12:45 pm
I was forced to watch about two hours of healthcare reform ranting on FOX News, ironically while I was sitting in the waiting room of the ER because my aunt was having chest pains. This is not about liberals or conservatives, it’s about all the REAL Americans who get up every day and go to work and pay their taxes and raise their families and deserve to be able to see a doctor. Thanks, Chana, for putting the focus back where it should be.