I’ve been a proponent of Health Care Reform for many years, yet it’s kind of hard to do a lot of celebrating today, despite the House passage of the Bill last night that supposedly paves the way for serious change. It’s been an ugly battle, and the win has not been without some collateral ethical damage (allegations of back-room deals and intimidation). The final vote ended up being completely partisan with not a single Republican voting in favor of passage. Once again, I find myself asking, "how have we become so divided?"
What’s interesting is that in listening to the news and reading articles about the so-called “debate” amongst our nations duly elected officials, there was little discussion about what particular parts of the Bill did or didn’t work. It appeared that there was no sincere negotiating going on from either side; merely posturing and political gamesmanship.
It became brutally apparent that the Republicans had no interest at all in any kind of Health Care Reform, if for no other reason than the fact that it was a vital part of Barack Obama’s agenda. The Democrats, meanwhile spoke often of “transparency,” yet pulled the shades on any real discussions and offered no olive branch to those across the aisle to smooth things over. Watching CSPAN is like watching a bad reality show; a mix of Jersey Shore and Survivor, except it’s the audience who turns out to be the Biggest Loser.
Outside the capital, under the watchful eye of the media, thousands of protestors marched and chanted in opposition of…well…they didn’t really seem to know for sure. They hadn’t actually read the Bill, so they just seemed to oppose change in general. They apparently had it on good authority that Barack Obama is not only an “illegal alien,” but also a “liberal,” “socialist,” “progressive,” “commie,” “white hating racist” who is determined to destroy America. (Wow, I didn’t get that impression from him at all, but then again, I used to like those Naked Gun movies with O.J. Simpson, so that just shows how poor a judge of character I am).
Based on a sampling of signs and attitudes, some of these protesters are just a step away from the Skinheads and survivalists who pick and choose passages from the Bill of Rights as a means to do as they wish. They don’t want to pay taxes, obey laws or submit to any authority. I say give them what they want. Give them all a patch of land in southwest Texas and then build a big fence around it. They are no longer allowed to drive on our roads (funded by tax dollars), purchase any American products or food (subsidized and required to be safe by tax dollars). They must exchange their money for gold, since the bills and coins are printed at the Federal Mint (funded by tax dollars), and they will have no electric or running water. I’m sure they don’t care though, they don’t need anybody.
You see, what I don’t understand is that if any of these protesters, politicians or conservative radio commentators had such a problem with “big government,” then why were they not screaming like banshees seven years ago during the development of the Department of Homeland Security? With over 200,000 employee’s and a current budget of over 43 billion dollars, most people don’t have a clue what it actually does, nor the scope of its reach, yet when it was being announced no one dared to question it’s necessity for fear of being called “unpatriotic.”
Don’t get me wrong…I’m not saying we shouldn’t be secure. In the time directly after 9/11 we were all desperately worried about our safety, so a new cabinet office that would oversee all aspects of “homeland security” made some sense (at least in a panicked, “what can we do?” kind of way). Still, for those whose main gripe with Health Care Reform is cost, it seems particularly hypocritical that they did not stand up to at least ask a few questions.
But I digress...
I don’t really think any of this hullabaloo is about Health Care. It could have been a bill over jobs or education or the environment; the battle lines would have still been the same. It is not socialism or spiraling debt that we need to fear, it is our own stubborn irrationality. If our citizens continue to blindly follow some political ideology or opinion to its unhealthy end, then our nation is truly doomed.
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Ahhh Bruce,
ReplyDeleteWith the “Say You, Say Me” title, I thought you were going to rant about Lionel Ritchie's improbable string of hits in the '80s...but then I remembered that this is a political blog.
"How have we become so divided?"
Let me preface my comments regarding your latest post by saying this: This bill was never about health care reform, it was a clever ploy by our “leaders” to further divide.
Divide and Rule.
(From Wikipedia: “From the Latin “divide et impera” - strategy of gaining and maintaining power by breaking up larger concentrations of power into chunks that individually have less power than the one implementing the strategy. In reality, it often refers to a strategy where small power groups are prevented from linking up and becoming more powerful, since it is difficult to break up existing power structures.”)
After reading your commentary, I was a bit confused. Your question regarding how we became so divided seemed sincere, however, the following paragraphs clearly showed that you have chosen a side and are extremely critical of the folks in the other camp. If you truly want to understand the divisions within our country perhaps you should step outside of yourself, shuffle off your preconceived biases, and look at the situation objectively.
The answer to your question, is simply this: we are divided because we choose to be and we are too blind to see it.
Our country began as a grand experiment. Could a humble collection of rational individuals throw off the shackles of an oppressive government and through the use of logic and reason succeed in self-governance? With our constitution as the framework for this experiment, our society stood a better than average chance at survival.
Sadly, logic, reason and the concept of individual liberty have all but been discarded. We are no longer a proud nation capable of determining our own individual destinies, instead we have clumped ourselves into factions of screaming simians who bestow rock star status on our “leaders”, and have collectively absolved ourselves from having to expend anything resembling the efforts of our forefathers who fought and died for self rule.
The experiment has nearly run its course. We have ignored the fundamental principles of what this country was founded upon. We were apathetic, when we should have been vigilant. We have been led astray by charlatans who proclaimed themselves our champions while they lined their pockets with our property. We have handed the reins of government over to liars and thieves because we were too lazy to pick them up ourselves. Now it matters little who steers the ship because we have no rudder. We have all but proven ourselves unworthy of self governance.
Those whom we have elected, both Democrat and Republican see this. To them, we are the masses who need their leadership. They promise to “fight for us” but all the while they craft ways to make us more dependent upon them. They pretend to be our humble servants, as they subtly position themselves to be our masters.
And where we we while all of this was going on? Well, idiots on the left are calling the ones on the right “Tea-baggers, skinheads, and bible-thumpers” while the ones on the right call the other side “baby-killers, queers and socialists”. Others concern themselves with more pressing matters such as Tiger Woods' infidelities, or who is getting booted off American Idol.
The question that really should be posed is: “At what point will our differences and our apathy cause us to discard the final vestiges of individual freedom and calmly replace them with the shackles of oppression?”
There are some, like me, who believe it won't be long.
Wow, and I thought I was cynical!
ReplyDeleteAs far as Healthcare, I have chosen sides. I made that statement up front. I've also chosen sides against "extremists" on either side. I have no respect or patience for people who stand on street corners and display offensive, ugly signs. I have no respect or patience for people who spit or yell offensive names at other people. I have no respect or patience for people who do not try to understand an issue, rather than simply accepting what Fox News, The Huffington Post, or (God forbid) my blog says.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that too many are led around blindly, like sheep, although I sincerely hope it does not end in slaughter. I’m not big into “movements” because once they start going one direction; everyone follows, no matter what.
Unlike you, I think this started out about Health Care, but then became about "power." Both sides fought for dominance, losing sight of the central issue and what was really important.
I'm obviously not as hung up on "individual freedom" as you are. I actually like some of the things our big government has provided for me, and I guess I've made the devil's bargain to take the good with the bad. My Kool-Aid was grape flavored and it was tasty.
I also get kind of tired hearing about things being "unconstitutional" or not "what our founding fathers" intended. Has anyone who says that realized that nearly 240 years has passed since they wrote that? Times are a little different now.
Okay, since I've stepped in it completely and risk the tag of “socialist” or “commie,” let me be perfectly clear: The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are the foundational laws of our nation and should be adhered to, but (and this is a BIG BUT), it’s like the Bible. Everyone has their own interpretation based on their own personal agenda. We all have a way of twisting words and meanings around to make what we want sound like the right thing to do.
As for the Founding Fathers, brilliant as they were (and I’m not being sarcastic, I honestly believe that), they could not have imagined the massive cultural, technological, social and International changes that would occur in such a brief (as far as history is concerned) time period. It is neither practical nor logical to assume that they would not have some changed notions if they were to step into our world today.
I agree with you that I asked the wrong question. It should not be “how have we become so divided?” If we look back through history, there has always been division, often bitter and decidedly ugly. Maybe it should be your question…or a question we haven’t thought of yet. But we can’t stop asking questions or being open to new ideas, because freedom of the mind is the one thing I can’t afford to lose.
Bruce,
ReplyDelete(I thought it might be best to speak to the points of your response. Your words are in quotes.)
“As far as Healthcare, I have chosen sides. I made that statement up front.”
I too am for Health Care Reform. However, as I stated previously this was never about reform. Major legislation of this sort has always been about dividing the populace into “controllable” groups.
Case in point, Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) said Monday in an interview with a Detroit radio station: “The harsh fact of the matter is when you're going to pass legislation that will cover 300 [million] American people in different ways it takes a long time to do the necessary administrative steps that have to be taken to put the legislation together to CONTROL THE PEOPLE.”
Perhaps that was a Freudian slip, I am sure if someone were to call him out on it Rep. Dingell would deny that he meant it in “that way”.
That being said, true Health Care reform would involve undoing many years of government regulation that caused the mess in the first place. It wasn't just “evil” insurance companies that suddenly brought about this crisis, most of the problems with the Health Care system in this country can be directly attributed to government interference.
In fact the vast majority of the problems that we face today, were caused by the very same idiots in government that we ask to solve them. (I'll list them in another post if you want.)
“I've also chosen sides against "extremists" on either side. I have no respect or patience for people who stand on street corners and display offensive, ugly signs.”
Sadly, the right to protest, scream and wave ugly, offensive signs is a Constitutional right. The right to not be offended, is not.
“I have no respect or patience for people who spit or yell offensive names at other people.”
If you are referring to the incident(s) which was FIRST reported by questionable news agencies, (then parroted by CNN and FOX), in which “Tea Partiers” yelled racial epithets at Rep. John Lewis, and insulted Rep. Barney Frank's sexual preference, I agree. That sort of behavior has no place in reasoned debate. I have a difficult time believing that the incidents took place as described, as I can find no corroborating video evidence on the web. (I don't watch FOX, CNN, MSNBC, etc.)
I do believe, however, that it is easy to gain momentum for one side if the tactics of the other are discredited, or the other side is marginalized.
The credentials of people at these protests are not verified, the only requirement for taking part in protests such as these is for one to “claim” to believe in the cause. I cannot say with certainty what group(s) the alleged “offensive name callers” and “spitters” were affiliated with. Can you say without a doubt that the perpetrators were not infiltrators from a fringe “leftist” group whose aim was to bring discredit to the protesters? No one can.
“I have no respect or patience for people who do not try to understand an issue, rather than simply accepting what Fox News, The Huffington Post, or (God forbid) my blog says.”
I concur wholeheartedly. Intellectual dishonesty, in my opinion, is a crime which goes unpunished. I would wager that the vast majority of the “extremists” on both sides could name 10 contestants on American Idol but would struggle with enumerating the 10 amendments in the bill of rights.
We have become a “sound-bite” nation. “Hope and Change”, “Death Panels”, “socialism”, “marxist”, “richest 1 percent”. Both the right and left are guilty of latching onto some jingoistic tripe and repeating it ad nauseum, but very few, (if any) actually investigate what they are saying.
(continued in next post)
“I also get kind of tired hearing about things being "unconstitutional" or not "what our founding fathers" intended. Has anyone who says that realized that nearly 240 years has passed since they wrote that? Times are a little different now.
ReplyDeleteOkay, since I've stepped in it completely and risk the tag of “socialist” or “commie,” let me be perfectly clear: The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are the foundational laws of our nation and should be adhered to, but (and this is a BIG BUT), it’s like the Bible. Everyone has their own interpretation based on their own personal agenda. We all have a way of twisting words and meanings around to make what we want sound like the right thing to do.
As for the Founding Fathers, brilliant as they were (and I’m not being sarcastic, I honestly believe that), they could not have imagined the massive cultural, technological, social and International changes that would occur in such a brief (as far as history is concerned) time period. It is neither practical nor logical to assume that they would not have some changed notions if they were to step into our world today.”
WOW. How about if we pick and choose what parts of the Constitution that I disagree with and keep the rest?
Me, I like the Freedom of Speech thing, unless it means that even idiots get to speak.
As an atheist, I don't care about the Freedom of Religion clause.
I think we should do away with the Federal Reserve since the Consistution says the currency should be backed by gold and silver. (BTW, the Federal Reserve is an Unconstitutional privately owned entity that creates money out of thin air and loans it back to us through the purchase of T-bills. Currently, our kids owe them several TRILLION bucks.)
Oh, the 16th and 17th amendments should be repealed, no more income tax and I don't really care for the direct election of Senators since most idiots are going to vote for the guy with the best slogan anyway.
I'm thinking about quitting drinking, too. It sure would be helpful if we brought back Prohibition for my benefit.
I don't care for the idea that only Congress has the authority to declare war, I think we should entrust that power to only one person, (just so long as he's a god-fearin' white Republican from Texas).
The document which has been the framework for our government has served us well. There are some things that are flawed with it. However, in an ultimate act of prescience, Bruce, our founding fathers added a process for amending the Constitution. To date it has been amended 17 times, (not counting the Bill of Rights). For better or worse. If we want to alter it, the process is there. If enough people agree with your interpretation of it, lets amend it.
The fact of the matter is the Constitution, as it is written now, IS the law of the land.
546 federal officials, (435 in Congress, 100 in the Senate, 9 SC Justices, and the President & VP), in 3 branches of government swore to support and defend the Constitution not to arbitrarily interpret it at their whim. The document says what it says, surely even Constitutional Law Professor Obama knows this.
“I agree with you that I asked the wrong question. It should not be “how have we become so divided?” If we look back through history, there has always been division, often bitter and decidedly ugly. Maybe it should be your question…or a question we haven’t thought of yet. But we can’t stop asking questions or being open to new ideas, because freedom of the mind is the one thing I can’t afford to lose.”
At least we are asking questions, Bruce.
So long as you, I, and others like us continue to ask questions instead of falling in lock-step behind one faction or the other, we still stand a chance.
Regards, Mark (DONE :D)
“I’m not big into “movements” because once they start going one direction; everyone follows, no matter what.”
ReplyDeleteI am not into movements either, Bruce. I am an individual, capable of making my own decisions without having to repeat slogans, or blindly follow the latest rock-star politician. I don't repeat slogans, nor do I take sides without investigating what each side represents. More often than not, I stand alone thinking that either the vast majority of our population is insane...or perhaps, I am. (The jury is still out.)
“Unlike you, I think this started out about Health Care, but then became about "power." Both sides fought for dominance, losing sight of the central issue and what was really important.”
It never is about what they claim it is.
“I'm obviously not as hung up on "individual freedom" as you are.”
Sadly, not many people are. That is why we have so many divisions. Blacks against whites. Christians against Muslims. Right against Left. Pro-life against pro-abortion. Gay marriage against straight marriage. Corporations against Unions.
IF we could ever stop lumping ourselves into meaningless groups and realize that anything that violates the rights of one individual is inherently wrong, we would all have a different perspective on what we allowed our government to do.
It seems to be OK to ask others to sacrifice a few individual freedoms to benefit “everyone else” just as long as you're not the individual who has to sacrifice.
It's OK to ask doctors to provide discounted services so that everyone can have health care. Unless you're the doctor, who still has 6 years of student loans to pay for and a family to support.
It's OK to make insurance companies take on people with pre-existing conditions. Just so long as I am not the individual who depends on the profits of the insurance company for my livelihood.
It's OK to force an owner of a business with 50 people to provide insurance to it's employees. Unless you're the employee that gets let go because the owner can't afford to comply.
It's OK to deny Melissa the right to marry Joan. Unless you happen to be Melissa or Joan.
It's OK to deny Bobby access to medical Marijuana to ease his nausea from chemotherapy. Unless you're Bobby.
It's OK to deny farmer Brown access to water to irrigate his crops because his water source is one of the last known habitats of the endangered “kumquat crustacean”. Unless you're farmer Brown.
It's OK to shoot an unarmed preacher to death in Toccoa, Georgia because he might have been involved with a suspected drug user. Unless you're the dead preacher, or his widow, or his unborn child.
I am for the rights and freedoms of these individuals, and many more like them, silly me.
“I actually like some of the things our big government has provided for me, and I guess I've made the devil's bargain to take the good with the bad.”
Indeed, it sounds as if you have. But let me ask you this: How does our big-government do all of these things? Do they have a big vat of money in a back room somewhere that they pay for it all out of?
Bruce, they've financed all of these things on the credit of not only your children, and mine, but their children as well. How long will this be sustainable? What will the unintended consequences of all the “good” things be after you and I are gone?
Prohibition of gay marriage, TRILLION dollar bailouts of failing banks, wars against drugs, poverty, and terror, financial aid to tinpot dictators in all parts of the world...these are GOOD things to someone. Forgive me if I don't see what's in it for me here. (continued)