A general observation about discussing politics in today's climate: anti-Obama people are extremely vocal. Extremely. Anti-Obama people are quick to celebrate Obama's defeats and even quicker to condemn any changes that are put in place to improve our economy. I'm generalizing, of course, but I'm allowed. It's my blog.
People who support Obama tend to be quieter and more polite. Personally, I ignore the negative comments for the most part. I like Obama. I am a supporter. Obama put into place, yesterday, something that almost every Democrat has included in their platform since the late 1950s. John, Bobby, and Ted Kennedy campaigned for the simple idea that every American should have health care. Obama has accomplished the first step. They did it!!! It has been a dramatic fight.
I broke the two groups into anti-Obama and pro-Obama because it no longer seems relevant to me to label people as Democrats and Republicans. It doesn't fit anymore. Americans are divided by much more than political party affiliation. I am often surprised by people I hear and see spewing the most hateful things about our President. I wasn't a fan of George W., but I didn't run around wishing him ill. I just didn't think he was doing a good job, and I thought he was dishonest, too.
I'm hoping what comes out of the whole mess, aside from health care for all Americans, is a change in the way politics does business. The need for transparency is needed now more than ever. I can't imagine any American coming away from Obama's last speech thinking that things were hunky dory in Washington. I hope people saw their elected Senators in all their glory. Glaring at the President. Looking petulant. Looking bored and disinterested. What did your Senator's face look like when Obama told them that just saying no all the time is not leadership?
Yeah, I like our President very much . . . given that we're in the worst kind of mess this country has seen since The Great Depression. So sign me up. We might be impractical. We might be a wee bit ambitious. We might even be (run screaming into the night!) a tad socialist. How will we pay for it? The way we pay for anything else. We squeeze it in there, make it a priority. Some things just need to be budgeted for, no matter what. In my opinion these things should include anything we can do to limit suffering of our fellow human beings. Health care, education, fighting poverty, ending war are the things that get me excited. If we can do these things and help all of the people in our country, why aren't we doing it? Where would you like to see your tax dollars going?
I know more than a few people, people whom I love, that struggle because they can't afford insurance. Nobody should go broke paying for medical care. It's simply not right. It's easy to be against access to quality health care when you are securely covered by insurance, when you are not up at night worrying about how to pay for your kid's next physical or the bill that is coming from the emergency room for that last ear infection. I would rather see my tax dollars going towards a healthier America than towards building another horrific military weapon.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Woot dere it is!
Posted by S.D.S at 9:36 AM
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3 comments:
I am not the biggest fan of Obama, however I am not overly opposed. The country is still in a horrible recession. We’re still involved in two wars and health care has divided the country down the middle. I think that at this point in his presidency history will define him better then the media is currently.
I agree with the health care bill. I think that the values of our society have become so perverse that we have lost sight of our humanity. Greed has blinded our culture; Insurance companies over charge the medical industry. The medical industry over charges the patient to cover their own ass from malpractice law suits. Don’t even get me started on the Pharmaceutical Industry. And their Lobbyist’s sway the government hoping to limit the damage to their bottom line.
Let’s not be naive either that the middle class shouldn’t be concerned about health care. Having a well paying job and decent medical coverage does not guarantee that anyone is fully covered for any type of illness. Pre-existing conditions may not be covered by Insurance companies; procedures deemed unnecessary may also not be covered by Insurance companies. All you know is that when you are sick you are sick and you need help. Who hasn’t fought with their Insurance Company over reimbursement charges or recommended testing? If you haven’t seen Michael Moore’s movie “Sicko” I recommend that you do.
Thank you S.D.S. The more I write the angrier I get about the greed of big business. As I said I am not overly opposed, but am also not the biggest supporter of Obama. Maybe I could be persuaded to reevaluate my opinion. The Health Care Bill may turn out to be one of the greatest events for the people of the United States in the 21st century.
At least he’s better then W.
Added this yesterday, but the blog went zany and lost it.
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I recently made a public statement that basically said that no one likes change, and that the change opposed with the most fervor is usually the change we need the most.
Attacked, I was - and by good friends, at that. It wasn't difficult for most to realize I was talking about the health care reform passage.
That was Tuesday. This morning, I reread everything in the thread, checking to see that I was being fair in my treatment of the people attacking me. I don't know if everyone does this, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't being offensive in any way. After re-reading it, I feel assured that I was nice in every way and owe no apologies.
Is attacked the right term to use? I believe so. I stated my opinion. Yet, I was being told how my beliefs - my personal beliefs - were wrong. I suggested that perhaps one of us in the discussion was being lied to - misled by misrepresented statistics and untruthful data. But, I never attacked anyone. I don't see it as a solution. But, I did politely defend my stance.
It is troublesome that our country is so divided. Even more so that people feel it is their obligation to tell people when they are believed to be wrong with as little tact as they feel - or don't feel - like using. But, it is a lesson to me, that no matter what, bitterness isn't going to win the battle or the war. Furthermore, I take solace in the idea that the extreme bitterness means people with our ideals received a victory in this latest battle - a much needed victory after a year-long struggle. A struggle to achieve something a long time coming.
The entire situation is reminiscent of those photographs of those black children walking into their first day of school in Mississippi. Angry faces screaming at those innocent children and people losing their compassion based on fear and ignorance. That may sound harsh, but the majority of people these days would never dream of behaving that way. It is unthinkable. For goodness sakes, our president is black.
Change is scary. I hope that when history revisits this issue, attitudes will change and hearts will open. Morally, in the richest country in the world and the leader of the western world we should be setting the example of compassion and humanitarianism.
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