Lies and Spiteful Animus, Characterize Health-Care Debate

There is a lot of false information out about the health care plans, which are working their way through congress now.  Let’s try to separate some facts from all the scare propaganda that people are getting from those who will tell any lie, no matter how outrageous, to keep Americans from getting the health care that most Americans voted for in the last election. 

Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota said: Ezekiel Emanuel, one of President Obama's key health care advisors "says medical care should be reserved for the nondisabled. So watch out if you're disabled."  The fact is Emanuel did not say anything like the quote attributed to him, buy Bachman.  Her statement is a bald-faced lie and I suspect she knew it when she said it.

Former Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, said: Seniors and the disabled "will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care."  Surely if such a system were to be passed, it would be evil in the extreme.  However, there is absolutely nothing in any of the five health-care bills that would require anything like what Palin is describing.  Once again, this is a pure lie.  Is Palin so ignorant that she actually believes what she said?  I don’t think so. 

The leader of Republicans in the House of Representatives, John Boehner, said: The Democrat-backed health care reform plan "will require (Americans) to subsidize abortion with their hard-earned tax dollars."  The word “abortion” does not appear in any of the health-care bills now in Congress.  The decision of whether or not to offer abortion coverage will probably be left up to the Health and Human Services Secretary, although right now there is not clear statement about that.    

Several Republican politicians and one tv advertisement, I have seen, says that under the proposed plans, health care will be rationed.  This is true health-care will be rationed, but no more than it is rationed right now.  If you have health insurance, your policy tells you what will be covered and what things are not covered.  In that manner, the insurance companies ration your health care.  If you don’t believe it, just get sick by some malady that is not covered by your policy.  After health-care reform is passed, we all will have a choice of policies and health care insurance providers, the policies they offer will tell you what illnesses are covered.  You can pick and choose the policy you like.  But, once you choose your health-care policy, then your health care will be rationed by that policy just as it is today. 

These lies and others have been shouted and screamed at town-hall meetings hosted by legislators as they attempt to learn from constituents what they want to see in a health-care reform bill.  These are not discussions they are filibusters.  And the conduct of some of these attendees is un-American.  They are not willing to debate the health-care issue.   A debate means, means you talk then listen to what others have to say, and later you man have another chance to talk.  But, these lowbrow yahoos prefer to shout down any one who disagrees with them.   They are afraid to let the truth come out.  The behavior is childish and selfish in the extreme. 

Certainly everyone on all sides of the health-care issue should have the opportunity to express their views, but if you enter into a discussion, you are obligated to allow those who disagree with you to have their say, as well.

Some Democrats have said that this behavior is sponsored by the special interests that do not want health care insurance reformed.  Personally, I think there may be a little truth to this claim, but for the main part, this is just the spontaneous behavior of people so afraid of change, they will do anything they can (even subvert the democratic process) to maintain the status quo. 

Their behavior will not succeed.  Americans voted for health-care reform.  It was one of Obama’s main campaign promises and the majority of Americans want to see him deliver on it.  The disruptive behavior by the few, will just energize the majority and cause even higher resolve to bring about the reform they asked for when they elected Barack Obama.