Too often I find that people who challenge "Obamacare" are trapped into defending the somewhat lousy, and much, much too costly system we have now, where government regulation effected the inflation of costs through the insurance companies.
The nauseating thing is that Obama and his spokesmen are explaining until they are blue in the face that it is NOT a "government takeover" and NOT a nationalization of health care, and anyone who considers it such is a right wing extremist or conspiracy theorist.
BUT, when you challenge Obamacare to any run of the mill citizen who is in love with the plan, they respond by pummeling you with reasons for why the nationalization of health care makes sense... (no wonder us "extremists" think Obamacare = piecemeal nationalization of health care).
So, let's take a run at this again -- Obamacare is not a government take-over of health care and will not result in a nationalization of healthcare, but us narrow-minded backwoods imbeciles who don't understand why Obamacare is going to be so great need only look at the sheer wonder of other nationalized health care systems to see how great Obamacare is going to be? I think I'm starting to get it...
Admittedly, the reality is that too many of those who oppose the plan are opposing it because it is spearheaded by Obama. But all the same, many of those who blindly cheer it on, until their voices are hoarse and the rest of us are bleeding from the ears, are supporting it with similarly simple-minded logic (because Obama has presented it). This happens all too often, with many areas of policy - a troop escalation by Bush is anathema to those who turn a blind eye if ordered by Obama, and a war run by Bush is gloriously handled in the eyes of some, but even if troop levels are increased by Obama, he's failing us miserably on national security in those same eyes. Then again (back to health care), there's a massive, muddled middle, many of whom are somewhat apathetic, and many others who either oppose or support the plan for much more well thought out reasons. Sadly, those thoughtful ones, wanting to discuss practical solutions are obscured in the background, drowned out in the din of polarized voices...
Friday, August 14, 2009
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1 comment:
Excellent post.
I hate to pile on the left to expand this point, but the silence is deafening from "progressives" on the Obama administration's virtual lock-step carryover (rhetorical differences aside) of the Bush administration's policy on government secrecy, civil liberties, and military interventionism. There are certainly stylistic differences between the administrations on these issues, but the current government is not about to relinquish any of the powers accrued by Bush and Co. Furthermore, Obama's "clear, hold, build" strategy in Afghanistan is just as reckless and hubristic as the Bush invasion of Iraq.
Specifically in regard to health care, it is almost comical to see the majority leadership in the legislature impugn and vilify protesters who dare resist the bait and switch health care proposal. As if only ultra-right loons and racists manipulated by Fox News would ever think to be skeptical of a proposal that is being framed as a cost saving measure yet vastly expands the role of the federal government in health care. Of course, the majority party does not really believe the things they say in the media. In 2006 Pelosi claimed to be "a fan of disruptors." This was clearly far too broad, as she is only a fan of those who disrupt her political opponents. She has no appreciation for the concept of government by the consent of the government, unless that consent at any particular moment happens to favor the wishes of herself and the power brokers for whom she works. This is not to say that the narrative peddled by the Democratic party is completely devoid of truth. Surely there is a sprinkling of Glenn Beck disciples and probably even racists among these groups of protesters. But I believe that the vast majority are simply acting out of a well-founded fear of an expansionary government when we can least afford it.
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