How did we arrive at the point in our nation when the loudest and most ignorant know-nothings are allowed to drive the debate over how to reform health care?
Of course, it s ‘debatable’ whether or not we are engaged in a national debate at all. It s seemed more of a national rant, one-sided and dominated by those on the rightward fringe of one party. I don t know if it s more appalling or depressing to realize that one of the two major parties is taking its cue from the crazy wing of the unenlightened masses when creating national policy.
It is a matter of literal life and death to hundreds of thousands, and financial life and death to millions, for our country to overhaul a broken health care system. Is it too much to ask our parties leaders to give us an honest debate without resorting to deliberate deception?
Leadership does not consist of kowtowing to one s densest supporters. Nor does it lie in oppositon to everything the political opposition proposes. Our nation is in dire need of enlightened leadership in the health care debate, and it would be nice if Republican leaders would educate their supporters on what is and is not on the table for discussion with some semblance of integrity. Until they do, they will deserve to be bypassed when the final bill is formulated.
It s bad enough to have to listen to cries of ‘death panels’ and ‘rationing’ from showboating blowhards like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Sarah Palin, with a few million dittoheads taking up their mindless chants. But it s inexcusable for usually rational lawmakers like Senators Chuck Grassley and John McCain to perpetuate these myths. They know better, and in a rational world they would be skewered by the national media, and ultimately by their constituents, for knowingly participating in deception and fearmongering.
But, unfortunately, 21st Century America is far from rational when it comes to determining the future of our nation s health. Finding creative ways to smear a president and derail his policies takes precedent over passing legislation that will actually make a positive difference in the lives of ordinary Americans.
Hopefully, President Obama s health care speech on Wednesday night will provide a more positive foundation for discussions, especially among congressional leaders, as we move forward. It s not too late for reasonable Republicans to reclaim their place in the national debate.
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I can’t agree with you more… We have a whole segment of the population dragging this country into paranoia and intolerance, not willing to do anything proactive- just criticize. The difference between the success of the American Revolution and the failure of the French Revolution is that the American Revolution was a proactive step toward fundamental change, as opposed to a reactionary protest and overthrow of the status quo. Bringing a system down without anything solid and proactive to replace it is guaranteed failure.
There is nothing positive, uplifting, or proactive about the Right’s stance. It is focused solely on bringing down a man and his supporters and to leave things the way they were. There are no true mavericks or reformers on the Right, no one willing to stand up and say “This is what should be done.” They get rid of guys like that pretty quickly- look at Ron Paul and Steve Forbes.