So I am viewing the loud protests at Town Halls with concern and sadness and wondering what can be done about them and how they will affect the process.
And going through various iterations of ideas, I come across a basic question, "what's the end request".
The arguments that I have heard thrown against it are,
euthanasia, and being forced into govt run healthcare.
Well ok, someone says they are against those things, and I can honestly reply "So am I, and furthermore, I have happy to tell you that neither of those things are in either of the bills."
There's no provision of required euthanasia either explicit or implicit and there will be several private plans to choose from in addition to a public plan.
So see protestors, you have won, your govt has listened to you and neither of those things are in the bills.
What about that approach?
You can have an image of a fancy Cadillac speeding towards a wall, Now you may like your Cadillac, it may have comfy seats and smooth shocks, but soon, it's not going to be that comfy anymore, so we have decide what to do, because to do nothing means we come against a wall. Some people may not be happy, but we have to do something or no one will be happy, except those that just want to wreck the car. (I'm intentionally trying to avoid a turn left/right phrase to avoid political connotations)
A Rep can ask
What are you afraid of? and if you don't trust me when I say those things aren't going to happen, where can we go from there? You either trust me or you don't.
Once all the protests are done, where are we?
back to the substance of the bill whether people want it or not, and for what real reason ? Some of that is technical, some of that is philosophical, some is motivated by the intent to protect their fundraising sources or electability.
The only people I see as being affected by the protests would be Dems in Red districts (or GOP in Blue), who may lose their seat over it, but does it makes sense that a person who comes to a meeting shouting down a speaker and making discredited arguments is going to vote for you based on policy changes ? Sounds like they are against the whole thing to start.