LOUD NOISES!! I DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’RE YELLING ABOUT?!?!?!?
Thanks to Brick for the inspiration for today’s title. I felt it particularly pertinent, considering the recent evolution of the health care debate from one of somewhat civil discourse, into one of shouting matches and intense anger. Here is just one of the most recent examples of what I’m talking about. People, mostly what is known as the “extreme” right-wing of the Conservative movement, has put out the apbon any and all town-hall style meetings held by Senators and Congressmen as chances to show the government that they are slightly unhappy with the prospect of a government health-care plan, a public option, socialized medicine of any type, or as some would argue, “the advent of a modern day Communist regime within the formerly democratic U.S.A.”
It all just really makes my head want to explode. When I hear people jump to extremist statements, such as the one lady at the Specter meeting who stated, “I don’t believe this is just healthcare. This is about the systematic dismantling of this country. … I don’t want this country turning into Russia, turning into a socialized country. What are you going to do to restore this country back to what our founders created, according to the Constitution?”, I want to just throw my hands up in the air and say, “I’m out.” Why does this frustrate me so much? Because you can’t have a rationale debate or discussion with someone when they’ve already jumped to the edge. You can’t find a middle ground, or a compromise, when someone has already staked out the position that any ground ceded it ground given over to a new-age Stalin.
Do I believe the government run health-care is the best way to solve our health-care crisis? No, no I don’t. First off, though, we need to accept that we already have socialized aspects of medicine in the form of Medicare, Medicaid, and even the Bush endorsed prescription drug plan. All of these are socialized forms of medicine. Why is this ok to say? Because Socialized, and Socialism, is not Communism. But apparently, it’s fun to equate the two. Why have an honest debate, when you can just draw a picture of the hammer and sickle going through the O in President Obama’s name? That makes your point well enough, I suppose.
I don’t really know what’s going to happen with socialized medicine. I don’t want out country to turn into France, where the cost of socialization in so many arenas of society often causes paralysis and an inability to grow or change along with the economic needs of a globalized economy. You know who else has universal, socialized health care, though? The UK. You know what else? They love it. No, really, they do. Despite what anyone in your church, your Libertarian Party meetings, etc. might try to tell you, the British cling to their healthcare system as a national treasure. You know what else? They’re not communists. Despite having this system for over fifty years now, they’ve done a pretty good job at avoiding Communism. It’s not a coincidence that “Wall Street II”, with Gordon Gecko and the crew, is being filmed and set in London.
So if you hate the idea of a government-run healthcare plan competing with private insurers, that’s fine. Express your opinions. Debate it. But drop the hate and anger. Drop the communist symbolism. You didn’t like George Bush being compared to Hitler by the left in 2004. This is the same song, same chorus, just different verse.
Thoughts at the closing bell:
- Football season is almost here! My Detroit Lions are definitely going to . . . ummm . . . well, they’ll field a team. The Colts are going to be an interesting team to watch. First season in forever without Dungy or Harrison. Michigan will also make me cry again, most likely, but they can’t be any worse than last years 3-9 effort. Bama looks to be a force again out of the SEC West. Come on, September.
- With that said, the coming of football season also means the coming of school. The last semester is upon me. The time really has flown by. Aug. 24th is staring at me like a snarling, angry beast. 21 hours between Law and the MBA. December, though, will feel like a surreal dream. I really, truly can’t believe it’s almost over.
- “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy was amazing. I was so engaged that I finished it in about four or five days. Now, I’ve committed myself to finishing “Einstein” before school. I also got “A People’s History of the United States”, to try and squeeze in some “white man’s guilt” before classes begin again.
- I’m also starting “The Wire”. I have to say, everyone who raved about this show was completely right. It’s just a jaw-dropping experience. I’m about to start Season Two. I borrowed the entire series from my law school colleague Ben, and plan to just try and plow through it. I’m also getting Season Two of “Mad Men” intermittently through Netflix. TV, I’m trying to indulge you before I must say goodbye again.
One love to you all. Holla.
We were walking through Lowe’s the other day, our new 2nd home, and Hudson said: I love light. I love light, Mom….
of course I thought of Brick…he is fantastic…
“You can’t find a middle ground, or a compromise, when someone has already staked out the position that any ground ceded it ground given over to a new-age Stalin.”
I totally agree. I have very strong opinions on the healthcare stuff (and pretty much everything). But I openly welcome any arguments on my views as well. Because it makes me less oblivious to the pros AND cons of it (and the right and wrong). If we can’t understand that our opinions and beliefs are different from others (and not always right) we will get nowhere. I think it’s great to have an opinion about things, but not to condone those who feel differently.