I wrote back in the fall about my frustration with the lies liberals tell about those with whom they disagree about health care. It is true in other areas, but seems magnified in that discussion.
It hasn't gotten any better. As the Democrats continue to try to push through their monstrosity of a bill, against the will of the American people, their defenders get more angry. They continue to call conservatives selfish, greedy, and stupid. They continue to make it sound like this bill is the only chance to make changes in our health care system. But they refuse to engage in a logical, reasonable discussion about the facts of our health care system and the ways that the proposed legislation does or does not address them.
In response to facts about the current system, they respond with anecdotal sad stories. "People are dying!" But the fact is, people die under every health care system, and will continue to die, whatever reforms may come. That's part of life this side of Heaven. Stories aren't facts. As part of this same tactic, they assume that those who disagree with them have never experienced poverty, an illness without insurance, having to go without treatment, or other elements of the stories they tell. They are wrong.
In response to arguments about the specific problems with this plan we get cries of "Selfish!" or "Talking points!" Of course, if they would READ the bill they would see that some talking points are true. If they would be open to the reality that some of the "facts" that whirl around in the media echo chamber are, in fact, false and would look beyond the Huffington Post, Daily Kos, MSNBC, and NY Times for their "news," they might learn that all is not as they have believed.
Because that's what we're dealing with, in many cases. Belief. A nearly religious belief in the truth of the claims of the sages of the left and the rightness of ramming through THIS legislation no matter the cost to our society. They don't care about the evidence from studies that refute many of the tenets of their faith about who the uninsured are, how their health is impacted, and what the many factors in the high cost of health care are. They don't care about the facts behind the numbers in the widely touted World Health Organization rankings. They don't care about the many economists and experts who agree that this plan leaves many fundamental issues untouched and creates new problems. They refuse to acknowledge the problems endemic to many government run health systems.
They're like children sticking their fingers in their ears while yelling: "Selfish!!" "Partisan!" "Stupid!" "Insurance companies!" "Teabagger!" and always when they can't come up with anything else, "Well, BUSH...."
I've nearly given up on trying. The frustration of trying to discuss with people who refuse to even address facts is almost too much. And yet, this is too important to give up. If even one person who is wavering actually looks at the facts, then it won't have been in vain.
Postscript: This doesn't mean that I don't believe that there are liberals with well-thought out ideas and arguments for them. I'm just not seeing any of them.
5 comments:
Very well said, Jane. I couldn't agree more.
I agree. It's as if people are just mesmerized by the health care plan proposal and those pushing it. They just think it will fix everything without knowing the facts. They also don't seem to care that "people are dying" when it comes to the unborn or elderly, as this plan will put them in danger.
The plain fact (Bwahahaha!) is that the facts don't say what they want them to say. And, remember, it's all about what they WANT, not about what is RIGHT, or BENEFICIAL, or WORKABLE. It reminds me of that "poll" that came around the internet right before the last elections. It asked a number of questions, and the responses helped you find the candidate that "you most agree(d) with." Well, what the heck difference does THAT make? It's not about who I agree with. It's about what's good for the country. They speak of caring for others, but it's all about THEM.
Jane, I think your comment about the near-religious belief of the rightness of their own cause applies to some people on both sides. And I think that's leading to an ever-widening gulf across which it's more and more difficult to communicate anything of substance. It's like the job of the true believers is to shout down the other side.
I might be guilty of posting an article on Facebook for comic effect every now and then, but I wish that people - especially the people in power on the left and the right - would commit to figuring some things out together. Do you think if they actually threw out the Democrats' bill and started over, that the Republicans would be able to stop gloating and get down to business?
I don't know, Ian. I think there are some who would, just as there are certainly some Democrats who would prefer to do that. But I think that there are way too many on both sides in Washington who are playing a partisan game that matters more to them than anything else.
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