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HEALTH CARE AND CRITICISM PER SE


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gar

Thu Jul 09 2009, 07:06PM

Registered Member #10

Joined: Wed Jul 08 2009, 07:03PM
Posts: 2

Hi all,

Some last, at least for the moment, thoughts on health care, and criticism per se. No one, even the president of the United States, is above criticism. As Bob Dylan once said in a song, that sometimes even the President of the United States has to stand naked.

Now, I am going to be frank about things and I hope that no one will be offended. Like President Franklin Roosevelt before him, President Obama is hearing the same old, same old when it comes to his attempt at changing our country and in his effort to pass a health care bill to reform our broken system. Roosevelt heard the cries of Socialist, from his opponents and even among his own party he heard the same criticism. His one time ally Al Smith, did not mince words in criticizing FDR regarding Social Security and the National Industrial Recovery Act. There are few complaints heard today from Social Security recipients.

Franklin Roosevelt in his campaign against Alf Landon had finally heard enough one night as he gave his fireside chat. He chastised the Republicans for being the party of me, a selfish and greedy bunch for being interested in nothing other than perpetuating their own social and economic position.

We now hear the echoes of the past as Republicans claim that we can not afford change, that our debt is too high, or we need to balance the budget or that we are doing too much at one time and other garbage. We you consider the volume of disgusting stuff being said about our President on conservative talk radio, it makes me think enough is enough.

We Democrats are very good at criticizing our own and our failure until recently at the polls has shown how successful we are at undermining our own candidates and self interest.

Let us not sabotage our own, and instead work to build a consensus on health care and climate change. There is only a small window of opportunity to get things done in a new administration's first year. It is quite easy to criticize, and if we do, let us do so in a constructive way. If you want to help get health care past call or e-mail or whatever Senator Feinstein who has expressed her displeasure with a public option. If one watched CSPAN yesterday, a remarkable thing took place in the Dodd committee in the Senate. What took place was a true bi-partisan effort in fine tuning a health care bill.

A little less noise on our part and more cooperation is needed now. We hear enough vile things about our President as it is. Let us work together in the coming months to be his back and support in his effort to get a health care bill passed. The American people need it and deserve to have a national health care reform bill. It's time has come.

garland byrum

Larry Hernandez

Fri Jul 10 2009, 01:45PM

Registered Member #6

Joined: Mon Jun 29 2009, 02:44AM
Posts: 21

Gar:

Although things get quite heated in these discussions, I do not think that it means that any of us are reining in our advocacy work for our common issues: health care, economic stimulus, clean energy, infrastructure renewal, etc.

Somehow, it seems that some among us think that a momentary clash of opinions signals a falling out on these issues. Speaking for myself, I haven't let up an inch in my efforts in spite of my qualms about how health care legislation is being fashioned in Congress. I can think, argue and still chew gum.

Now, I understand that some members just can't tolerate internal debate. They need to have perpetual harmony and 100% agreement on all major issues to feel things are in order within a family or organization. That is just not the way things really function among Democrats with diverse backgrounds and points of view.

But at the end of the day, as long as we don't impose loyalty oaths or start purges, we do come together.
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As for the thin skin of our elected Democratic representatives, who were crying like wounded animals a week ago when actual Democrats called in and criticized their backsliding on health reform, it seems that in the end, the pain worked its magic.

Take the case of one of the biggest crybabies in the lot, Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu. Two weeks ago, she was fighting against any inclusion of the public option. This generated a barrage of criticism and she responded by issuing threats. Now, two weeks later, she has announced that she is willing to support a bill that includes the option of a public alternative to private insurance. I don't think that a wondrous road to Damascus moment happened. It was our pressure taking its effect. That is the way it usually works when the issues are tough or when the money is all on one side.

When the health-care industry pumps a million dollars a day in advertising and in intense lobbying, if we don't respond with our own lobbying, we just don't get heard.

gar

Sun Jul 12 2009, 09:10PM

Registered Member #10

Joined: Wed Jul 08 2009, 07:03PM
Posts: 2

Larry, I agree with what you said, my thinking is there is a time for debate and in this case when the moment of truth for reforming health care legislation is at hand we need to put pressure on our Senator Feinstein and the blue dog members of the Houses if this is going to pass at all.

garland byrum


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