I was thrilled when Obama was elected. He was saying 'all the right/correct'(that word still bothers me...'right') things and it looked like we might actually make some progress! Well, seven months later (after inauguration) and it's looking less and less hopeful! The public option for health care that Obama implied was sacrosanct, appears to be slipping away...to be replaced with what, co-ops that no one can adequately describe and MSNBC (Olbermann or was it Maddow?) last night was describing as ineffective. Is it panic time of what? I can't believe how ill-informed much of the public must be. Heck! I read recently that over 40% of Americans can't name the three branches of government, so nothing should be surprising, right? Correct?
It never ceases to amaze me how people can vote for things that are antithetical to their own best interests. I can't believe that the majority of Americans are stockholders in the large insurance companies ; that at least would explain why they don't support the public option. The news keeps talking about scare tactics, so that they would believe the rumors swirling around about 'death panels,' goverment control and rationing of health care, the demise of insurance companies, and all the rest of it is a bit unbelieveable! Surely they listen to the news? Or do they? I wonder how people come to swallow the lies, but apparently they DO!
'Socialized Medicine!" I doubt that most people even know what that means, except that 'socialized' anything is a frightening specter to them after years of brainwashing against anything that smacks of Communism and socialism is the top of the slippery slope to Communism, right? Correct? And we all know how 'socialized medicine' has left those poor Canadians in long lines waiting to be cared for! NOT!
I hear all the time that government anything is a mess! Don't expect the government to do ANYTHING and do it well. That's the mantra! Well, how in HELL did we get to the moon? Was THAT a government program? How in HELL did we invade Iraq and Afghanistan? Our military is paid and run by the government, isn't it? And 'Don't touch my Medicare' is a common demand. Don't they realize that Medicare is a government single-payer, public program? They can't add two and two!! The Republicans have sold us a bill of goods about government and we've apparently bought it!
Heck! I have a relative who pays NO taxes .... he in fact gets more money back when he submits his tax forms each year than he sent them in the first place, but he rails against taxes! The very taxes he hates, keep him afloat!
Self-hate is the only explanation for peoples' foolishness, I can think of! Tell people over and over again that they are worthless and they'll believe it sooner or later. Not only will they believe it, but they'll hand you their own heads on whatever kind of platter you prefer!
So, today we are faced with a President who isn't willing to fight for anything he isn't pressured into fighting for...or so it would seem. The Public option that he assured us was necessary now isn't. We won't 'fix' the health care system and when it becomes evident that it isn't fixed, people will conveniently forget all the fear-mongering peddled by the Republicans and blame the Democrats for it! It's a perfect set-up! Our stupidity dooms us to inaction. Our inaction gives the other camp ammunition against us and it becomes another shot in the dark...a self-inflicted wound that won't heal! When WILL we ever learn, when WILL we learn?
Strategies for passage: I have been doing lots of reading. My senators are NOT holding townhall meetings in my state, so I have nowhere to go with my frustration. Instead, I read adn then share links to good info with friends and contacts on Facebook and Twitter. My poor friends and family are probably convinced that I have gone off the deep end! I am open to other suggestions. What CAN we do to turn this thing around? Ideas would be much appreciated!