The levels of violence and hostility in current discourse about health care are continuing to rise. Add to that the disturbing fact that there are some members of congress who are knowingly contributing to the problem by telling lies––easily disprovable gross mischaracterizations concocted to spread their message of fear.
Witness these same congress members sitting among their colleagues, safe and smug with the knowledge that, come what may, they will still be covered by their own proven and successful government-run health care program. While congress equivocates, deliberates and even lies to us, we are being manipulated, deceived and stirred to a wild frenzy and urged to violence by our own congress members. All the while the corporate professional fear-mongers, paid for by lobbys, are playing us like two-penny kazoos.
And through it all, our congressional representatives sit there quietly with their own health care plan, watching us all fight, tearing at each other like dogs in a dogfight, like roosters in a cock fight. The health care debate is nothing more than a staged brawl. We are being played against each other in cruel and heartless pay-for-view extravaganzas.
Psychologists know that fear can be a major motivating force in provoking violent behavior. Fear is instinctual. It is unreasoning. It’s the easiest way to manipulate a person. It is also known to induce aggressive behavior. Only a despot would rule through fear.
But psychologists also know that ignorance is a major cause of fear. Therefore, it is the ignorance that is a contributing factor in violent, aggressive, emotionally charged behavior. It is the ignorance that gives rise to the unfounded fears that are currently being expressed in the so-called health care debate.
Simply put, violent behavior is often a response to a fear of some sort, or the feeling of an immanent threat. The sequence of stages goes from ignorance to fear, and then to violent action.
Enough is enough! It’s time we all took a deep breath, a step back, and a welcome break from the fighting, the shouting, the violence and the fear-mongering. Let us pause for a moment, regain our dignity, and then move on in our pursuit of the truth.
First, let us note that congress is currently trying to design a government-run health care program. Yet, we all seem to have completely overlooked the fact that congress members already have a very good health care plan, and it is a government-run plan. I refer to the government-run health care plan that covers every member of congress and many other federal employees as well.
It is a good plan, and over time has proven to be a success. If you don’t think so, just ask yourself how many times you’ve heard a member of congress complain about his or her government-run health care plan, or had a problem with it, or opted out and switched to a for-profit provider instead? It’s unheard of. Quite simply put, it’s a great government-run plan.
But what is the plan? How does it work? Shouldn’t we all know this? How does congress’ coverage differ from for-profit coverage? Are there any serious holes in the plan? Can you be suddenly dropped? Will your rates unexpectedly rise? Are there special pre-conditions? What’s the track record for complaints?
These questions are far more relevant than the stupid yammering about death panels and pulling plugs. These questions are important to all of us as consumers who need answers. Obviously, the best place to get those answers is from the folks who are getting that superb government-run coverage.
Therefore, I ask that each member of congress give a public description and an explanation of how his or her own government-run health care coverage works, told from the point of view of the individual being covered. I ask that each member of congress get up in one of his or her town hall meetings and explain the pros and cons of his or her own government-run plan, and then compare it to a similar for-profit plan.
It is astounding that our congress members would sit and watch the people screaming, scratching and clawing at each other, while they themselves are safe, some of them breathing that rarefied atmosphere known only to the chosen ones, each totally shielded from the consequences of their own proposed health care legislation. If the public option fails, will the members of congress lose their present government-run plan? Will they be forced to purchase coverage from a for-profit provider, as all of us will be?
At the present time, members of congress have their government-run program, and it works very well. But such a plan is deemed to be off limits to taxpayers. The added insult is that they refuse to reveal the details of their own health care plan. They don’t even want us to know what it is they don’t want us to have.
It’s time that we all pause for a moment and listen, as each member of congress gives us a description of his or her current government health care coverage plan in comparison to other for-profit plans. I have composed a sample letter to members of congress, in which I make that suggestion. I present it for your consideration, and I ask you, my fellow abused and suffering citizens to join me in getting a response.
=-=-=-=-==- THE SAMPLE LETTER -=-=-=--==
Dear Senator or Representative,
As you know, we the people are experiencing a lot of anger and misunderstanding in regard to the question of whether or not there should be a government-run health care plan.
Everybody knows that members of congress and others in government service are covered by a very good government-run health care plan. Please take a moment to tell the people what you think of your health care plan. Why do you like it? Explain it at one of your town hall meetings. Tell the people why you think it works as well as it does.
And then answer this question. Is there some reason why I can’t have the same health care plan that you enjoy, the one you just described? If there is, please explain.
The people have a right to be told about the health care plan that congress enjoys, especially as that body wishes and acts to deny the same plan to the taxpaying citizens of this country.
If you choose to use a wider venue for your response, my suggestion is that you contact Keith Olberman, Chris Mathews, Rachel Maddow, Ed Schultz or Bill Maher. I’m sure any of them would be happy to give you a platform from which you can respond.
SIGNED __________
=-=-=-=-==- END SAMPLE LETTER -=-=-=--==
I think a side-by-side comparison of competing health care plans would be helpful for the average voter/consumer to see. It’s just common sense, and it’s also good consumerism.
If every member of congress will address the health care issue by giving what could be a very informative and enlightening presentation, a fair comparison between the government plan he or she now enjoys, and on the other hand, a comparable for-profit plan, the people would be better informed, and a great public good could be accomplished.
The time has come when we the people must rise as one and demand accountability from our congressional representatives. We need a straight answer, not more lies and distorted half-truths.
We must not allow ourselves to be bullied into a for-profit health care plan if what we want is a public option. We the people can make the public option a reality. We are the real grassroots. Let’s all send a copy of the sample letter, or maybe just the link to this article, to our senators and representatives. They owe us an honest answer and a clear explanation, and we’ll never get either unless we ask. Let’s make this happen now!