Tired. It’s the only word I have at this point.
I am so downright tired of the raging debate on health care reform. I’m not tired of the reform efforts themselves. Despite my staunch opposition to the legislation currently on the table I am not anti-health care reform, I am for reforming the health care system — just not in this exact way.
No, what I am tired of is the mud-slinging, political bitch-festing that has completely overtaken every stream of media known to modern mankind.
I am tired of every person who opposes the legislation as it stands being accused of hiding behind fear.
I am tired of both sides whining about the other calling names and behaving poorly and then doing so themselves.
But more than all of that, above and beyond every ounce of annoyance I could possibly harbor over those things I am utterly exhausted by seeing these things and so many more completely irritating, incomprehensible behaviors coming from my fellow women politicos.
Women, the supposed mediators of the political realm. The ones capable of a higher level of cooperation. The ones that understand a goal attained is better than a fight persevered for too long and the end result wasted. Women, who I would love to believe could bring much value to Washington should they penetrate it in greater numbers.
I recently commended a woman on her political passion over Twitter, a woman who is at this time struggling with the roll her political life is playing in her family life, only to be contacted by a member of “the other side” to clarify if I really meant “political passion” or “flame throwing”.
Really.
A well-respected member of the other side, I might add.
Later in the week when I pointed out a bit of flame throwing originating on her side of the fence, she contended that it wasn’t nearly as bad as what those damned conservatives were doing.
Wasn’t as bad?! What the hell is this fifth grade? They pushed you first so you just socked a little punch in return? They started it? They kicked harder so your blow wasn’t as bad? Give me a break!
Meanwhile, Erin Kotecki is asking everyone what they’re so afraid of and tossing in plentiful insinuations that opposition to health care reform is just one big stand-in for the real problem republicans are having right now, “that a black man is president”.
Because that’s furthering the conversation.
Karoli at Drums ‘n Whistles is busy completely alienating an entire population of her potential audience assuming that those that oppose health care reform are religious zealots (that apparently belong in the Midwest and south, because we’re those damned gun totin’, drawl talkin’, dem dare conservatives) who are angry and think Obama is a Nazi.
For the record had I been at that particular town hall, I’d have taken one of those posters. Not because I think Obama is a Nazi, but because I would have taken pictures of it when I got home and blogged about it. Also I often look concerned and/or upset. Talk to my face, it has a mind of it’s own. Oh and I kind of like the Midwest. In short: that picture could have been of me, in which case the story told would have been incredibly off-base. Because here’s the thing, every piece of literature in my hand I do not necessarily believe. It’s a little something called critical thinking. Everyone should give it a try sometime.
But even more than that, rule ONE of persuasive writing DON’T ATTACK YOUR OPPOSITION! After all, if you want them to hear your points they have to be able to make it past the intro without hating you and everything that leaves your lips.
And they contend the Republicans are the ones incapable of civil discourse.
Perhaps if we weren’t so busy teaching Sunday school, working through our irrational fears and cleaning our shotguns we’d have the time.
I mean do you all honestly think those of us who oppose health care reform as it stands are happy about the way some of our counterparts are conducting themselves? No more happy about it than I imagine some of the democrats are about the way some of you are conducting yourselves.
The fact of the matter is there are brown spots in the lawn on both sides of the fence. Are there fearful, angry, uneducated Republicans out there spreading disinformation about the legislation in an attempt to squash all attempts at reform? Of course there are. There are also die-hard, gung-ho, Democrats unwilling to compromise even a millimeter who are glazing over the less than stellar parts of the bill in an effort to squeak it through. Neither party is perfect and it never will be. I support anti-health care reform protesters shouting at town halls just about as much as I support Obama’s plan to euthanize my Grandma at her next physical. I kid!
Here’s an idea, stop giving those people your attention. That is, after all, what they want. Without it, their cause means nothing. Stop talking about the anger and the hatred and the fear. Stop talking about talking about the reform and do it. Get back to brass tacks, get down to business and insist on a higher code of conduct, don’t just point fingers and retaliate in a little less severe manner. It’s not about whose tactics are worse, after all. It’s about whose are more effective. And as it stands, neither side is really proving themselves any prettier.
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Fair enough. We’re both tired of it. And if you’re not afraid, that’s great. I am. I’m afraid and I’m angry, because I see the real debate swirling down the tubes in a maelstrom of claims of Nazism, death camps, euthanasia and other inventions that have nothing to do with reality or the proposals on the table.
I’m tired of getting up in the morning and hearing more outrageous claims about what reform will or won’t do to seniors, infants, and everyone but the middle class who is currently being royally screwed by the insurance companies (not to mention employers and small businesses).
I’m tired of it too. I’m tired of putting facts out on the table over and over and over again only to have them squashed by a screaming litany of made-up, bogus claims about killing Grandma and putting Grandpa out to pasture.
Reason doesn’t seem to get attention, no matter how hard I try to put reason out there. What seems to get attention are incredibly outrageous claims that are, at their most basic level, an effort to kill all attempts at health care reform as a political zero sum game that has absolutely nothing to do with people, or people’s concerns.
And just for the record…I will once again reiterate that what I said slammed those smug folks who assumed the zealots resided in certain areas of the country. It slammed the smug. Not the zealots. The smug.
Why did I slam the smug? I slammed them because if they’d get off their butts and start speaking truth to the shrillness, MAYBE we’d get to a point of having a conversation.
The lies that have overtaken the debate are evil, and they’re intended to cause fear. I’m glad you’re not afraid. My mother’s friends were very afraid. The emails I received were steeped in fear. Speaking for me, I’m afraid that the demagogues are going to destroy any chance we have at actually, maybe, getting something done that would help folks.
If I alienate people for that, I’ll live with it. I’ll own my temper and I’ll own my words. Because flyers claiming Obama’s plan is a Nazi plan are evil, ugly, and intended to frighten people away from serious discourse. Just the way carrying a gun to a town hall meeting where the President is speaking was.
The agenda to defeat this isn’t racist. It’s purely political. It is a cynical effort to reach deep into the fear bags we all carry and pull out the deepest ones. I’m not going to stand by and watch that happen with my mouth or my keyboard shut.
Oh, one other thing. Forgive me for a second comment, but I should probably also say this in fairness.
Part of why I took aim at Sunday school teachers is because I had just shut down Facebook after reading a bunch of snark from people I *go to church with* about this stuff. Was it fair to all Sunday school teachers? Of course it wasn’t. I was unfair.
As a Christian who doesn’t see things through a conservative lens, it really feels like a stab to get a bunch of righteous snark thrown my way from those who I am supposed to love as family. It hurts. And I’m not alone in this. Churches are alienating many people because they assume we all agree, that we all stand politically where we do spiritually.
I don’t want to walk away from the church, but I’ll be honest…I have one foot sitting in the doorway with the other one close behind. It hurts too much to be constantly slammed as ‘unGodly’ because I think differently when it comes to politics.
Thanks for responding, Karoli.
Like I said on Twitter, the judgement and persecution we experience from any given group does not excuse us from judging and persecuting them. It goes right back to the above — what they did was worse so your blow doesn’t count? We all know that’s bullshit.
I understand you’re tired, but if every person who gets tired resorts to stooping to this level in order to get their point across the conversation will only continue to deteriorate, spiral out of control.
I don’t care whether you agree or disagree with me. What I care is that you conduct yourself in an appropriate matter. I care that you’re heard as the woman I know you can be; intelligent, rational, forward-thinking. That’s what I care of all those engaged in this debate — but especially the women.
I’m sorry, but ” Despite my staunch opposition to the legislation currently on the table I am not anti-health care reform, I am for reforming the health care system — just not in this exact way.” Followed by absolutely NO reasons for opposing the legislation you are so staunchly opposed to, or any suggestion about how you might reform the system, is a bit disingenuous. Our current system is broken.
The Republicans and their Insurance Company backers successfully demolished any attempts to reform it during the Clinton Administration. The Republicans then had nearly 8 years of total control during which they *could* have proposed and passed meaningful reform, if they were the least bit interested. They weren’t, and they aren’t. The Insurance Industry is a trillion-dollar a year profit machine that those in charge of it don’t want to get off of just now. It’s like a crack-pipe, and they can’t put it down.
Meanwhile people are dying. People are losing their homes. And we spend MORE on Healthcare than any other industrialized country, and get less for it. It is, quite literally, crushing our economy. Oh yeah, that’s what the Republicans WANT, so they have a hope of regaining power so they can … ignore reform again. My son rang up a $580,000 bill last Christmas (Merry Christmas to me!). I’m lucky. I have insurance, and he has Medicaid, so it cost me nothing. But North Carolina where I live is about to change their Medicaid eligibility rules and base them on FAMILY income. I, frankly, make a crap load of money. I won’t qualify. So the NEXT time this happens, I lose my house. Yes, I said I have insurance. But it s United Healthcare. They are criminals. Convicted of fraudulent behavior and fined $400 million dollars. Paid their CEO $129 million ONE YEAR. And I’m about to hit the lifetime max benefit for my son with them. After that? “Oh, you can’t pay cash? That’s ok, we’ll take your house.”
It’s time for universal, single payer insurance. This bill (these bills, actually) don’t go far enough, but they are a start. I want Medicare to apply to everyone. Everyone is covered. Birth to death. No questions asked. We’re the only industrialized country that does NOT do that, and it is shameful how we treat our fellow man.
And on the subject of the “civil” discourse. The levels to which the Republican party have sunk is despicable. Calling our President a Nazi? People were removed from Bush Town Hall meetings for wearing a “No Blood for Oil” T-shirt, and for having one ON THEIR CAR IN THE PARKING LOT. But Posters with “Nazi” on them, and veiled threats against the President, and screaming and yelling and calling US Senators “Liar!” at their town hall is now OK? And yes, I am directly implying that, by complaining about the OTHER SIDE’s reaction, you are implicitly saying your side is ok in what it’s doing. The only acceptable response is to say, in no uncertain terms, that the current behavior of the anti-reform, republican protesters is simply unacceptable in a civilized society. Accusing the Democrats of being 5th graders puts them several grades ahead of the current crop of Republicans, frankly. I will thank those ridiculous “get the Gov’t off my Medicare”[sic] crazies: They have motivated ME to get *very* engaged. Meeting with all my senators and Representatives, etc.
I don’t think Karoli has alienated an audience that might listen. The opposition isn’t listening to *anything* other than their Insurance Industry shills. They won’t listen to their congressional representatives. They won’t listen to reasoned argument. They won’t listen. Period. I’m not really that worried about alienating that crowd. And those that are INCLINED to listen? They are turning away from the mob mentality in droves.
Good for you. Thank you for pointing out that no matter how passionate we all are – no matter our political thoughts or affiliations – we need to approach this very important problem logically and rationally. We’re not doing any one any favors by bringing in race, or slinging insults around. Let’s slow down, look at these issues carefully and work on a fair and useful plan for everyone.
The fact that congress is so hell-bent on pushing this agenda through so quickly is making people panic. There are a lot of legitimate questions being raised and no one seems to be publicly acknowledging their concerns. And when they are acknowledged, the answers are shifty and vague. As a result, people are getting more and more scared because they feel out of control of their own lives. It doesn’t matter if one is a Democrat or a Republican, no one likes feeling like they are losing control over their lives.
Let’s keep looking at the big picture here – this will affect every single one of us. And our children and grandchildren will ultimately have to deal with the aftermath of our decisions.
David, you clearly don’t follow me or you’d know that my exact concerns with this legislation have been raised before — my solutions have been implied — and they will be again across many different venues. This particular post is a call for others to do the same, not about what I think.
As for this: “And yes, I am directly implying that, by complaining about the OTHER SIDE’s reaction, you are implicitly saying your side is ok in what it’s doing.”
Did you READ the post? I have complained about both sides behavior. I have condemned the conduct of both republicans and democrats. And again, if you knew anything about me or you’d know that I have no side. I am an independent.
And this: “I don’t think Karoli has alienated an audience that might listen. The opposition isn’t listening to *anything* other than their Insurance Industry shills.”
That is exactly what I’m addressing here, the presumption that no one is listening. I could have assumed every democrat and republican would respond the way you have to this post — not listening, not paying attention to what has been said, making it about their argument — and not posted it. But that would be against the very point that I am trying to make here. Stop assuming and if you really care so much engage as many people as you can. Both sides need to take a step back and do this.
Write from Karen,
Oh, what nonsense that is. Pushing things through? Here are some examples of “pushing things through”.
Senator Isakson (R-GA) proposed end of life counseling as a requirement for Medicare eligibility, arguing that we’d save bazillions of dollars that way. He made that argument in April, 2008.
The provision to prohibit pre-existing conditions exclusions has been on the table in several different amendments since 1993.
Commonwealth Fund came out with a study in 2007, which they amplified in 2008 and again in 2009 saying that the best approach to health care reform was to create a ‘public exchange’ where insurance could be purchased by individuals at competitive rates, to include a public option in those exchange offerings, and to set a baseline for benefits. That was 2007.
Kaiser Foundation has done similar studies over the past 5 years, finding that outcomes-based medical payment models work better than fee-for-service models.
All of these have been available to anyone who cared to read them since they were published. This is not a new debate. It’s an ongoing debate — one that is debated to death, blocked during Democrats’ times in office, ignored when Republicans are in office.
What triggered my post was seeing the word “Nazi” connected up with health care reform. It should trigger a negative reaction in you, too. Instead we’re in this bizarre loop about whether *I* somehow alienated people by blowing a gasket and speaking my mind on my blog in a general rather than personal way toward anyone.
I don’t know. Just seems to me that defending someone waving around Nazi signs with our President’s picture underneath the word “Nazi” by claiming I’ve been unfairly general with my indictment somehow misses the point.
Which is, of course, everyone’s right. When it comes to this debate, that right seems to have been claimed as the mantra moving forward. Ignore facts, send out the party line.
Pushing it through? Geez, insurers have known this was coming for YEARS. That’s why they were willing to cave so easily on guaranteed issue and pre-existing conditions. Their line in the sand is the public option, because they realize that getting 47 million captive insureds is a gravy train for them if they don’t have to compete.
I know it too. My $1750/month premium for the family might drop by a few dollars without the public option. With it, I have a fighting chance to keep my house AND my insurance.
Defending people waving Nazi signs? Grasp at strings much?
And misses the point? Which point? *Your* point? Fine. Because I was making *my* point which is not whether or not health care reform is or is not the right thing for our country at this time but that by “blowing a gasket” we’re losing traction on BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.
Did I use you as an example? Yes. I did. Because your blog post happened to be new, fresh and an excellent example of just what is happening in the very fast downward spiral that is this conversation.
For every one new argument that comes out with an ounce of rationality there are hundreds more fashioned just as your post was: point fingers, blame, blame, blame. Assume, assume, assume. Blame, blame. Hammer your point home with no interest in any give and take. It’s not effective. End of story. That was the ENTIRE point here. It is not effective. You’re not getting anywhere, I’m not getting anywhere, no one is getting anywhere with that kind of rhetoric.
Look, I understand that you viewed your rant as a personal one. But you published it publicly and that’s where the problem lies. You’re explicitly ranting about the deteriorating state of the debate, but in doing so helping the downward spiral along with the way in which you presented it. We’re all human, I rant my ass off almost daily in my kitchen out loud to my husband. We all need to do it. But we have to remember that no matter how personal the thoughts, the URL, or the blog when we publish it publicly — and drive traffic to it via Twitter or Friend Feed or whatever service of our choosing — it’s no longer private and personal. It’s a public argument for or against the issue and the way in which we present it matters.
That’s all that’s being said here.
It’s not about YOU or ME or anyone in particular. It’s about everyone. It’s about making a difference — however small — in the direction of the conversation at hand. It’s about refusing to engage in and give attention to the scare tactics and the outlandish disinformation in an effort to elevate the debate to a higher level of communication.
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