Partially reprinted from my blog, (www.cobbhamzoo.blogspot.com)
Well, I'm still sorting out my notes from Netroots Nation (meaning I haven't looked at them yet), so instead I'll post one of these "How I spent my____" sort of narratives.
This past Sunday, for the first time in (oh crud) maybe 40 years, I became part of the counterculture again, insofar as the county next to ours, Oconee, is as red as they come.
Someone in their county (and I'm ashamed to admit that I have no idea who) decided it would be a nifty idea to hold a meeting about health care, albeit without any of the major players involved; you know, Senators, Congressmen, informed citizens or the like. Well, the Oconee Democrats, knowing that they, on a good day, were far outnumbered, asked for help from the Athens-Clarke Democrats, knowing that red here only counts in football.
So, we all gathered our signs, were asked to be respectful (when a man yelled out of a car window that we were all "a bunch of fascists", I wished him a nice day. Of course, after he was out of earshot, I asked him if his mother had any children that lived.)
However, back to the narrative. This spectacle was to be held at the Oconee Veterans Park, beginning at 10 am. We already knew they wouldn't be in a good mood when we found out that they were forbidden (BY the veterans, I believe) from holding the meeting at the veterans monument, as that was supposedly non-partisan. We had also been informed (it helps to have a source who knows the Sheriff's wife) that the organizers wanted to know if the "Dems" could gather without a permit. The Sheriff, who by the way is a Republican, said it was a public park, and added for good measure that he expected good behavior on all sides. Great guy!
We reached the entrance of the park promptly at 10, started holding up our signs, and decided to wave and smile to all. Now, remember, that not all coming into the park were there for the demonstration, but we did, it seemed, stun some people, while others became entranced with their steering wheels. We also got some thumbs-up!
We then moved to the site of the meeting, where, at first, we actually outnumbered the "cons", but I believe that by the end it was about 50/50. Someone from "our" side had the foresight to bring signs that read "NOT TRUE" and, I'll say, we needed them.
The first speaker (after the obligatory pledge and singing of the Star Spangled Banner) was a local minister who gave the benediction, making sure to note those in the crowd who didn't realize the "error of their ways", or some nonsense like that. More on him later. So much for the separation of church and state, but, as I said, more on him later....We were also treated to a horrid version of "I'm Proud to be an American", sung by lord knows who.
There were then series of speakers, some purporting to read from "THE BILL" (which? The House proposal? One of the two that passed two Senate committees?) Much of "THE BILL we were hearing seemed straight out of the mouths of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. Then there were the usual flat taxers, the speakers who had no idea that granny was going to live, and a huge number of people who told us that WE had not read the bill. I had one man (in a flag shirt, of course, which reminds me of another story that I'll relate in a moment) RUN over to me and show me a printout that said that the GUVM'T would have all of our medical records electronically! I looked at him and reminded him that it probably didn't bother him that they already had all his phone calls electronically. He walked away rather quickly. Somehow you could always tell the opposition...they looked angry!
The story his shirt reminded me of was this (and this is true): recently, a group of Republicans were having a meeting in some location, and were about to say the pledge. You know they are incapable of starting a meeting without saying it. Well, they looked around, and horrors of horrors, there was no flag to be had!!! Well, fortunately, they found a man wearing a flag shirt, and he saved the day. I can just hear it, "I pledge allegiance, to the shirt..."
Then came the ultimate in nonsense. Speaker after speaker referred to copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution they had there, and urged all assembled to get a copy and familiarize themselves with the contents. Well, fair enough....I think every American should. Then, a speaker got up, who, from what I was told, was an aide to Representative
Paul Broun (Idiot-Georgia)
, who picked up one of the books and very pompously told the audience that he was now going to read from said Constitution. He began; "We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
All along they had said that everyone would have 10 minutes to speak at the conclusion, and for once, I hadn't gotten in line, but at that, I RACED to the podium to get my ass in line. There were things all along I could have refuted, but that one got my goat. When my turn came, I began with, "I don't know who that man was imploring you to familiarize yourselves with the Declaration and the Constitution, but I would suggest that he do the same...the words he uttered were from the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution." I went on to say something about the fact that liberals and conservatives have been arguing these matters since FDR, how I have been helped by Medicare, how I know someone from England who praises their healthcare system, and how Belgians like theirs and then saved my fury for last. I don't remember exactly what I said, but it was something to the tune of "if the pastor who spoke the benediction can't find it in himself to pray for all of the people here, perhaps he needs to find another line of work." I later found out that many there spoke to him privately, and that he was quite apologetic.
We were told to keep the signs as we get to do this all over again on September 8th! I'm having fun!!
(end of blog)
I have a serious question, though. The meeting on the 8th is an actual town hall meeting with Representative Broun. He's holding it at 10 am, again in Watkinsville, which is in Oconee County, although his office is in Athens. He's afraid that the Democrats might outnumber the Republicans. That's not my worry, as I know many Dems who will attend. It does make me mad, though that the people who really NEED health insurance, the working people, won't be able to attend, and the meeting will be overflowing with seniors who somehow think that "all of a sudden" government is going to get involved in Medicare.
What I'm looking for are solid answers (or good questions) to move the discussion away from the wingnuts. I've got the info from Factcheck.org, the Democratic Party of Georgia, and Snopes to counter the lies, but I want to take it further; I want to ask questions or make comments that will make people stop and think. Perhaps that's futile, but after the meeting I attended this past Sunday, something has to be done. There's an alternate reality out there that is taking over and it's starting to permeate the mainstream.