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Health Care Debates--Patriotic or UnAmerican?
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by 158 | August 11, 2009 at 10:43 am
249 views | 38 Recommendations | 22 comments
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The president is trying to enact laws to reform the system, make it more fair to all Americans. Administration officials and congressional leaders are going across the nation to explain and promote the president’s plan. They are holding town hall ,meetings and giving speeches to explain the new plan to the American people so that the people can make an informed decision on supporting the president.
Yet the partisan political opposition has engaged in an organized, coordinated effort to disrupt these meetings and speeches and prevent the people from hearing the facts.
The demonstrators show up at community meetings, boo, ask rude questions, shout over the speakers and try to argue with he government representatives. They claim dissent is patriotic and shows the discontent of the people and that the administration's policies were unpopular, and that protests are in the true democratic tradition. They claim they favor wide open debate and an exercise of free speech.
The government claims they are disruptive, they prevent free speech of others, that their actions are un American and verge on mob rule. They say the opposition wants to smother debate, hide the facts, and prevent the majority from passing health care by lying and using scare tactics.They have even said the opposition accused the president of being a racist.
There are two sides to this. Who is right or wrong or are both sides just playing partisan politics as usual, just as both sides did in the 2005 social security reform deate with almost the same charges being made, exceept then it was a republican president and now the president is a democrat.
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smkovalinsky
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (22)
at 10:50 on August 11th, 2009
I favor open debate but it must not drown out the other speakers. Protest, boo, argue but also let the other side be heard.
at 11:46 on August 11th, 2009
It seems that there is a crusade to cause chaos in order to make people fed up with the whole thing, rather than constructive agruments that would benefit everyone.
at 12:08 on August 11th, 2009
I agree. We need facts and not name calling, from both sides.
This will cost a lot of money and it needs to be done right.
at 13:03 on August 11th, 2009
It depends on who is in power. The one running the country have more power to remove protesters.
at 12:55 on August 11th, 2009
It.s partisan politics as always. Sara is right they need a healthy debate. Of course to have a debate you also need to know what you are debating. Someone has to take the lead and explain this bill to the people. Misinformation on either side breeds distrust and contempt.
at 13:04 on August 11th, 2009
Very good comment
I agree.
Both sides are also running misleaiung TV commercials.
at 18:00 on August 11th, 2009
ACP: "Of course to have a debate you also need to know what you are debating." YES! What a concept! And it seems like none of the U.S. lawmakers that support the health care bill know what they're debating. The bill is over a thousand pages! JEEZ! As much as I want to see health care reform in the U.S., and as much as I'm sick of paying more and more for private health care insurance, I'm aghast over the fact that the proponents of the bill can't be specific about the bill's contents and they can't seem to be able to answer a straight forward question. I know that it's hard to believe, but there are many Americans, out there (such as myself) that don't have an axe to grind when it comes to the health care reform bill. And until the bill's proponents can be more specific about the bill's contents, I won't buy what they're telling the American people. Why would any American, in their right mind, trust an American politician and take what an American politician (of either party) has to say as fact unless that politician can present the facts in a convincing manner?
at 20:27 on August 11th, 2009
very good comment.
at 12:59 on August 11th, 2009
Town hall meetings are for questions and--hopefully--answers, if the person speaking is allowed to speak. The incivility, rudeness, and lack of restraint by some people is turning the meetings into free-for-all shouting matches. What kind of democracy is this? These kinds of reactions are for public demonstrations, not town hall meetings. If they want to demonstrate, then get a permit and march, carry signs, and shout slogans. But to disrupt a meeting where people genuinely go to discuss the issues is an imposition and insult to those who are conducting the meeting and to the attendees.
at 17:31 on August 12th, 2009
What kind of Democracy is this? The recent town hall meetings are mild in comparison to the town hall meetings that have been going on throughout the U.S. since the country's beginnings. Incivility, rudeness, and lack of restraint? This is nothing new within the realm of American politics. There seems to be a glaring misconception (perhaps due to a lack of historical knowledge) out there, that rudeness and incivility are something new to American politics. Tell that to the ghosts of American politicians past . . . . It's about time that Americans started telling their government what they really think of it!
at 09:07 on August 13th, 2009
Should we conjure the ghosts of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, and get some ideas from them on how to address political differences?
I like to believe we have progressed in the last three hundred years in the realm of conflict resolution politically.
Freedom of speech and dissent are the bedrock of our Democracy and should be protected. Call me naive, but I don't see how shouting matches move us towards consensus for meaningful legislation. The important information is subjugated to conversations about how town hall meetings should be conducted and whether its okay for someone to be strapping guns to their body when attending.
at 13:48 on August 13th, 2009
great comment.
I agree.
But I think many people will continue to try to shout over others.
at 15:45 on August 13th, 2009
That particular citizen in New Hampshire, who had the gun strapped on, had the legal right to do so according to my understanding of the New Hampshire gun laws. At least that's what was reported yesterday and I haven't bothered to check the story out today. In any event, he probably felt it necessary to "pack" in order to protect himself from the politicians and their goon squads. I myself, here in Florida, can walk around (legally) with as many guns on me as I'd like as long as they're concealed. Not that I'd ever do so, however that's my legal right. Perhaps I'm wrong and that's OK by me.
America is not a "democracy"-- God forbid! If it were, we'd all be goose-stepping to the beat of the tyrannical majority. "Conflict resolution" is something that's done in the corporate world and in family court. If the politicians want to avoid "conflict", in light of all the crap that they've pulled on the American people throughout the years, then they should start answering the questions posed to them, by American citizens, in a forthright and non-obfuscatory manner.I've heard from a number of people that attended various "town hall" meetings. And what the media and the politicians are reporting is not necessarily in conformance with the facts to say the least. Imagine that!
at 13:06 on August 11th, 2009
You are exactly right. Republicans are doing this now but 4 years ago democrats were doing the exact same thing.,
at 14:59 on August 11th, 2009
This is a really good piece, thank you!
at 17:56 on August 11th, 2009
Thanks,
that means a lot.
at 19:05 on August 11th, 2009
I believe the president is doing what he can, considering how many different industries have vested interests in maintaining the medical industry chaos that we now experience as "normal."
I heard someone compare the rioters at the Democrats' health care forums to the Brooks Brothers rioters who invaded Florida after Bush lost the election in 2000, and created havoc at the election officers with the simple intention of intimidating people, creating confusion, and hoping to benefit from the chaos.
The Repblicans must be desperate with fear of the passage of health care legislation if they're resorting to the "let's riot" politics of their post-election 2000 strategy. And you can bet that half of the "protesters" (shock troops) have been bused in from DC or other places, and are led by lobbyists and Republican Party activists.
at 20:26 on August 11th, 2009
Remember 4 years ago democrats did the same against Bush.
at 19:27 on August 11th, 2009
Proposed health care reforms initiated by Obama,and that is only field where he can bring about his 'promised change',are unlikely to be implemented owing to fierce opposition by health care insurance Cos.
Those who disrupt meetings,hoot down speakers are not serious about important issue.These guys must have been misguided by agents of insurance companies.
Why not two speakers at every meeting,each one putting forth his/her respective views before the audience with intentions to convince the attendees of his/her view point,contest with logic and arguments the viewpoint of the opponent.
Hooliganism and democratic way of protest can not be juxtaposed
at 20:25 on August 11th, 2009
The same thing was done by democrats against Bush 4 years ago.
But I agree both sides are wrong to do this.
at 06:52 on August 12th, 2009
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5icf1XEHHem8Z_Ck1V-oxciA6dCUAD9A1CMJ00
This is an excellent story about historical attempts to form a national health insurance.
This has been going on since Theodore Roosevelt, and public opinion for the most part has been its nemesis.
at 14:47 on August 18th, 2009
Thanks for the link
I will check it.