You know, I get tired of feeling angry when I'm writing, but when I look around, it's difficult not to feel anger, and a lot of it. Frankly, if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention. Given the tone and the tenor of public debate these, how can any reasonable person be happy with the lunacy, the lies, and the disinformation? We've evolved into a country in which the lowest common denominator (those who think the least and shout the loudest) rule. We've turned into a political entity in which so many have become impervious to reason and reality. Truth? I've joked about this before, but truth really is for losers and Liberals these days...and I'm sorry, but that really pisses me off. I'm incensed that we can't have a reasoned, rational discussion based on facts and reality. I'm tired of seeing so many normally well-meaning people joining the ignorant, reactionary mob by checking their intellect and ability to reason at the door.
I have some pretty strong feelings, and I'm generally not afraid to put them out there. I may not always be right, but you can bet that I've given my opinions a good deal of thought before I toss them out there into the ether. I'm not afraid to discuss things I feel strongly about. Occasionally I learn something, and sometimes I may even change my mind. Yes, sometimes I'm wrong. That's the nature of debate- we put our heads together, and hopefully the sum total of our intellect and experience will rise to the surface and create something better and more viable than any one person might have come up with on their own. What we have now are large numbers of people willing to assume the absolute worst and draw a maximum conclusion based on a minimum of factual information. Screaming and tossing insults at Congressman and those who think differently does nothing to address the issues surrounding health care reform. This is a serious issue that deserves serious, sober reflection- not volume, insults, and demagoguery.
If you disagree with the idea of health care reform, fine. Tell us what your ideas are. Talk about what you think might be a wiser course than the one currently being proposed. Convince us with the weight and sensibility of your arguments. If you're convinced that the road we're currently headed down is the wrong approach, you should be able to marshal your arguments in a lucid, forthright manner. If you can't do that, if you're reduced to screaming about socialism and Nazism, I'm not altogether certain you should even be considered as having a right to speak your mind. If you add nothing of value to the public debate, why should you even be acknowledged? No, I'm not about censorship, but neither do I appreciate having my intelligence insulted. It's simply not possible to have a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent...so why should I even be expected to try?
Health care is one of a number of very serious issues facing this country- issues crying out for sober reflection and reasoned consideration. No reasonable person should have to deal with being insulted and shouted down by people too rude and ignorant to countenance anything outside their own narrow frame of reference. This country used to be better than that. I used to think that their wasn't anything that we couldn't do if we put our minds to it. Looking around, it's difficult to pretend that I retain that confidence...because I don't. There are simply too many people seemingly without a mind to put to anything. They've become empty, reactionary vessels just waiting to be filled with hatred, ignorance, and Right-wing propaganda...and there are plenty of people willing to fill that role.
WE DESERVE BETTER.
