This morning I had coffee with senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester. I'm not really that "connected" - it was just their weekly "Montana Coffee" for folks visiting DC. Tester, whom I have met many times, and I exchanged pleasantries. Max was very friendly - until I mentioned that I felt single payer health care needed to part of the government's health care discussion.
You would think I had suddenly sprouted hairy warts on my face, lost a couple limbs and was holding my battered coffee cup out for change.
If you want the full story, read on.
It went something like this. First, I did my duty as a teacher at a tribal college and asked him for his continued support for our institutions, which he has actually supported pretty well. He was all smiles, although there always seems to be something a little plastic about Montana Max. Botox, maybe?
Anyway, after I had done my bit for the college, I told him that as a citizen, I really felt that single-payer healthcare NEEDED to be part any government conversation. My 13-year-old son remarked later that "it was like his face slammed shut."
The discussion went something like this:
Me: "Senator, as a citizen, I must tell you that I believe single-payer healthcare needs to be part of the conversation you are having. I know you believe it will never pass..."
A change came over his face - from plastic pleasantry to grim grimace. It was not a subject that he wanted to talk about.
Max: "It will never pass."
Me: "I'm sure you are right. But to not even discuss it means that nobody gets to look at the pros and cons of single-payer...
Max: (Interrupting) I think everybody here knows all about single-payer.
The senior senator starts looking around, as though he would like someone to rescue him. He clearly doesn't want to have this discussion, even from a constituent.
Me: "Well, that's probably true - but the REST of the country doesn't know all about it. And to keep it out of the discussion on healthcare, well, that's just RIDICULOUS!"
At this point, an assistant wanders over to whisper in Max's ear. He bares his teeth - er, smiles - at me.
Max: "Well, you probably have a point there."
And he excuses himself to go talk to somebody who will fawn over him properly.
During my time here in Washington, I think I have come to understand why our politicians become power-hungry and corrupt. Here they live in the shelter of the capitol dome. They are lionized and fawned over. They are men (and women) of power, "rock stars" of the political world. During a capitol tour through Sen. Jon Tester's office, the aide actually told us what to say to a senator if we saw them, because we would be so "star struck" when we saw them. The very helpful suggestion? "Hello, Senator."
Honestly, I don't know that they can HELP becoming the people they are. They are like the ivory tower academicians, completely surrounded by a world that is not in the least bit real.
Max is starting to look like he's going to need good healthcare someday soon. Lucky for him, he is a lifelong "public servant" with a great medical plan and money in the bank. But I think Montana Max needs to come back to our state - not just for a weekend, or a long break, but to remember how people REALLY live. Our health care problem is not going to go away overnight - but if we start out by excluding possible avenues, we will eventually reach dead ends.