Life has been absolutely positively shitty for me lately for reasons unrelated to politics. And so perhaps it's been that which has made me so hopeless about the likelihood we'd have any meaningful reform in healthcare.
This morning, I experienced my first ray of hope. My entire family is what I would call right wingers. Not the rabid, crazy ones you see on teevee, but the kind who are insulated in their religion and hear nothing but the twisted lies being spouted by the more fanatical religious leaders. They are, in so many other ways, wonderful people who I can't imagine not being a part of my life. I've learned through experience, however, being the only left leaner in the family along with being a stubborn person unable to give up an argument, I have to simply zip my lip when it comes to all things political and religious. They generally return the consideration, although not always.
Several weeks ago, the one sister for whom I have some tiny sliver of hope for seeing the world as it really is rather than as the religious right spouts, began talking about how terribly scary the proposed healthcare reform was. I knew she was referring to all the death panel mumbo jumbo Palin and those wackos have been spreading. I very casually talked about how scary it is right now, too, for all the people without any insurance coverage and that Something had to be done soon so everyone could get healthcare. Since she has adult children without insurance and who need some healthcare, she agreed.
This morning, another sister, from whom I've never heard anything but the right wing garbage absolutely shocked and amazed me by starting to talk about the wonderful benefits other countries provide. She started by asking me if I could go to Canada to get healthcare (my husband is a Canadian citizen, but permanent resident here.) I told her yes, if we moved there, we would both be able to get healthcare. She then started talking about England, France, Mexico. About how not only do they get healthcare, but she'd heard kids get their college paid for. She was amazed. The wackos she usually listens to never tells people things like that. I engaged her in the conversation for as long as I could, pointing out that they did indeed pay higher taxes in countries like that, but the benefits they get make life so much safer and less stressful for them. It was like a whole new world had opened for her. And if it opens to her, it will start opening to quite a few others, since she's kind of the "matriarch" and I know will discuss it all with them.
I know my preaching to them would not have made any difference in their opinion. But actual information is making it's way to them bit by bit. I actually have a fantasy now that I might be able to engage in a real conversation with them about healthcare reform. And perhaps once they see the lies that have been foisted on them about that, they'll start questioning some of the other lies.
It might be that healthcare reform will change the entire political landscape of our country. More than I'd ever have thought possible.
Hange in the Progressive Caucus! And get on board for Real healthcare reform that will help the people, not the insurance companies Obama, Reid, Pelosi, and the rest of you who can significantly affect the final result. Insist on a strong public option with no triggers - and put strict regulations and rules in place for insurance companies.