So there is a lot of debate about "the debate" on the national heath care plans being pushed by the Democrats and the President. Yes, health care must be reformed. I'm not sure there are many people who disagree with that idea, except for maybe the companies profiting under the current system. But what the new health care plan should be is rightfully up to debate. There is nothing wrong with opposing views or there being a true debate between the citizens of this country and the politicians in Washington.
I must admit that I'm not for the current plans being pushed by the Democrats. I don't agree with a public option. Sure, President Obama whispers in your ear as you are drifting off to sleep that the Democratic heath reform plan will not take away your right to choose your own health plan. Well, true it doesn't directly take away your right to choose your health plan. But, creating a public option is akin to allowing a company to enter into the marketplace and undercut everyone and rewriting the laws to allow it to happen. So eventually, the public option will be the only option with less services and more costs in tax increases.
However, this isn't the real reason of my post. It's about the debate about this plan. There have been some truly heated exchanges in some "town hall" meetings. I love that politicians are actually going out and facing a tough crowd. I do give credit to the politicians in both parties actually facing their constituents and not stacking the crowd with party loyalists. What I'm not happy with are politicians branding these people as crazy, renegades, Nazis, or accusing them as being "organized protests" that are bad for democracy. Well, I'm pretty sure the American Revolution was one big "organized protest". Who cares if these Obama dissidents are from an organized group or are just angry citizens not aligned with anyone? They are all citizens with a right to oppose the reform.
When a Senator or Congressman is elected, they represent all of their constituents, not just the Democrat constituents. They should listen to opposing viewpoints, even if they come from the evil and vile Republicans, after all, it's not like anyone is busing in foreigners to protest this legislation. What I'm most surprised about is that it's Democrats complaining about protests, since they invented the modern day protests, marches, large public speeches, etc. It becomes scary when elected officials claim that people who are downright mad and are angry are blocking the democratic process. No, people have a right to tell their elected officials how they feel, whether the elected official wants to hear it or not.
I think the Democrats were caught a little off guard by the large scale dislike for this plan. And, even though the arrogant White House likes to paint Americans as simply confused...many Americans do understand what this means...higher taxes, more bureaucratic red tape and ultimately less competition and services. American people aren't confused, they just don't like this "change". Democrats thought when they were elected, voters wanted liberal change....when really, they just wanted change from the Bush Administration. No matter how Democrats like to paint the "crazy" people in the town hall debates, no matter what poll you read, roughly half of Americans do not like this health care reform...and those numbers increase every day.
How should our politicians respond? Well, first they should listen. Don't engage protesters. Just sit, listen, nod your head and say thank you for your comment. Whether you agree or disagree, town hall meetings are really for people to get their feelings off their chests. Second, politicians should actually listen in these meetings. Don't try and shove what you want down the citizens' throats, but pass a bill that a strong majority of citizens want. Third, actually draft a bill that addresses health care's problems. Where is the strict tort reform? A huge reason health care is so expensive is because of the lawsuits. Doctors have to run every test imaginable to WIN (not avoid) a lawsuit. They have to pay huge amounts in malpractice insurance, because they will get sued. This costs a lot and increases the costs for everyone. Fourth, you don't need government to actually run health care to have a lot of influence in it. When did people begin to think Government is the answer to all problems? Do we go and buy government food, tvs, cars, houses? No, almost everything we interact with on a daily basis is from the private industry. Why do we think Government is suddenly the solution? Everything the government runs is inefficient. Plus, Government can make regulations to help cover everyone that wants insurance or needs health insurance. If people don't buy it and need help? Sure, go to the ER, but they need to get the bill, even if it bankrupts them. We can make affordable health care options available if we curb the litigation and through smart legislation.
What we cannot afford are politicians trying to take more control of our free market economy so they can gain even more power over us. That is really what this is all about...power. Most politicians love the power, like a rock band loves to hear the crowd scream. They feed off of it. If they really did it just to "help" people, then politicians like Senator Kennedy would resign his seat so the people of Massachusetts would have two Senators in the Senate chambers voting on the issues that matter to them. Politicians would quit after 10 or 15 years, not live in their elected offices.
It is our right to stand up and say no to them. It is our right to organize and go to to town hall meetings and express our views, so long as we aren't hurting or threatening anyone. I think it's time for the Democrats to start working with Republicans (and Republicans work with Democrats) and the American people to find a solution, rather than imposing the Democratic Party's liberal solution that simply won't help anyone in the long run.
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