What we have gained is healthcare - what we may have lost is an intelligent process to politics.
Rahm Emmanuel had said that the Republican party is controlled by a fringe group of extremists who do not represent the majority of Republicans. This extreme group utilizes fear and labels to mobilize a small base, who have manifested themselves in the tea party.
For the last few weeks, the opponents of health care reform have leveled this plan with socialism. When this failed, and there was no specific provision made to protect pro-life policies, they called Democrats baby-killers.
Ridiculous statements have been being made, like this one. Really? "The war of Yankee Aggression".
The Huffington Post has done a great job compiling photos of ridiculous signs at the Tea Party Rallies. According to Sarah Palin, these people are the "U.S. political future".
Hopefully, the intelligent members of the GOP will re-take control of party, and stop leveraging fear to stir passion. We cannot experience real progress until Democrats and Republicans work together in the effort to change the way we do things. People's lives, education, and wallets are on the line.
-Sahil
What worries me is that independents are listening to the fearful rhetoric that conservatives are putting out there. The cries that health care reform will bring about socialism and the collapse of America are heard more by persuadable voters than are the facts of the bill. I was tired of hearing about how something that deals with 1/6th of our economy shouldn't be dealt with this way. One of the biggest problems with our health care system is the very fact that it IS 1/6th of our economy.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad a structural base was passed so now we can work on bending the cost curve and providing even MORE Americans with the health care coverage they deserve.
I like what you said earlier, Sahil, that it costs money to make money. I believe it was the only way to save the financial industry and improve the depressed economy as a whole, I believe it is the way to create jobs, and I believe it is the only way to fix the health care system. Not everything is solved by cutting taxes. Both Democrats and Republicans know that tax rates will have to go up in order to reform the health care system, but that's not something any politician wants to say. So instead since the Democrats are proposing the reform, Republicans use it against the Democrats.
I heard a caller on TV yesterday say the he was 20 years old and considered himself a healthy person so he chose not be insured. He said he didn't want the government "telling him what to do" and that "next the government will tell him when to go to sleep and when to wake up". Ignorance like that is the problem. If that kid eventually does get sick and can't pay his medical bills, since he's uninsured the burden is put on the American taxpayers. It's not about the government telling people what to do because it's becoming socialist. It's about the government looking out for all of the people it represents.
In just over a year in office, President Obama and his staff, as well as the Democratic Majority in Congress have, among many other things, passed the Stimulus Package, created a job bills, passed sweeping health care reform, and soon will pass financial regulation reform. Hopefully voters see through the conservative rhetoric and realize that this is possibly one of the strongest first terms of any presidency - and it's not even halfway through.
Thanks for bearing with me and I look forward to reading more from this blog in the future
"This extreme group utilizes fear and labels to mobilize a small base, who have manifested themselves in the tea party."
ReplyDelete"The war of Yankee Aggression". Really?
Where are you getting your information. I would LOVE to know.