Earlier today, an important Senate committee dealt proponents of the public health care option a stinging setback. The Senate Finance Committee voted against including a government funded plan in the eventual bill.
The fight for such an option has become a pivotal battle ground in the fight for health care reform. I've yet to make up my own mind on the merits of a public option. Sifting through the lies, exaggerations and misinformation has become an almost herculean task.
My support of health insurance reform is rooted, not in any altruistic desire to cover the uninsured, but in the knowledge that our current system is completely unsustainable. While wages have remained virtually the same over the last ten years, insurance premiums have risen like clockwork. Consequently, profits for the insurance industry have risen an astounding 450% over the same period of time.
While resolute in my support for broad industry reforms, I remain unconvinced of the necessity of a heavily subsided government option. I am, however, open to the possibility of changing my mind. There may be valid reasons for including a public option and even if not, I'd still like to hear the other side of the argument. I feel nothing but disdain for those willing to take to the streets in opposition to something they know little about.
Let's put the outrage on hold until all the facts are known, shall we?
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
A delayed reaction to Wilson-gate is better than none at all
Last week, the mass media's endless appetite for sensationalism was again satisfied thanks to South Carolina's own Joe Wilson. Representative Wilson's timely interjection into the President's address gave news outlets a perfect excuse to ignore the very real (and evidently uninteresting) issue at stake and instead focus on the kind of politically fueled controversy American's love to watch.
We know now, thanks to the public statement he released shortly after the fact, that Rep. Wilson regrets his actions and that he's learned a valuable lesson in humility. Besides, it was never his intention to rudely interrupt the President, he just momentarily lost control of himself because he cares so very much.
Despite his public admission of regret, there's no doubt that Wilson isn't a little pleased with the way events have panned out. What politician wouldn't welcome the national attention and public outpouring of support? He's a hero for all the Americans who share in his vehement disdain for the President and these supporters have flooded his campaign with cash.
Ok, I admit it. I'm more than a little skeptical of Wilson's claim that his outburst was an entirely spontaneous reaction. It's unfathomable to me that a grown man, an elected official, who is listening along all of Congress to a Presidential address would just unthinkingly blurt the first thing that popped into his brain, no matter how passionately his feelings on the subject may be.
It's just too difficult to believe that an elected official could have such little control over his own actions in public. Wilson's outburst makes far more sense as the calculated gambit of an ambitiously clever politician. Many politicians, from both sides of the aisle, have been co-opting the health care debate as a means of furthering their own selfish interests, whats one more name in the pile?
Lacking any other reasonable explanation, we're left to conclude one of two things. Joe Wilson, Representative of the great state of South Carolina, is either another in the long line of opportunistic politicians more than willing to trade on populist anger for their own advancement, or a man possessed of a frighteningly low level of self-control has somehow become a powerful state official.
If anyone reading this entry has a more reasonable explanation, please contribute your thoughts. I'm curious to hear a less cynical observation.
We know now, thanks to the public statement he released shortly after the fact, that Rep. Wilson regrets his actions and that he's learned a valuable lesson in humility. Besides, it was never his intention to rudely interrupt the President, he just momentarily lost control of himself because he cares so very much.
Despite his public admission of regret, there's no doubt that Wilson isn't a little pleased with the way events have panned out. What politician wouldn't welcome the national attention and public outpouring of support? He's a hero for all the Americans who share in his vehement disdain for the President and these supporters have flooded his campaign with cash.
Ok, I admit it. I'm more than a little skeptical of Wilson's claim that his outburst was an entirely spontaneous reaction. It's unfathomable to me that a grown man, an elected official, who is listening along all of Congress to a Presidential address would just unthinkingly blurt the first thing that popped into his brain, no matter how passionately his feelings on the subject may be.
It's just too difficult to believe that an elected official could have such little control over his own actions in public. Wilson's outburst makes far more sense as the calculated gambit of an ambitiously clever politician. Many politicians, from both sides of the aisle, have been co-opting the health care debate as a means of furthering their own selfish interests, whats one more name in the pile?
Lacking any other reasonable explanation, we're left to conclude one of two things. Joe Wilson, Representative of the great state of South Carolina, is either another in the long line of opportunistic politicians more than willing to trade on populist anger for their own advancement, or a man possessed of a frighteningly low level of self-control has somehow become a powerful state official.
If anyone reading this entry has a more reasonable explanation, please contribute your thoughts. I'm curious to hear a less cynical observation.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Latest controversy: Obama's school speech
In the minds some, Obama's recent back to school speech was actually part of a secret plan to indoctrinate the country's youth. Many conservative parents are convinced that the President was using this platform as a means of pushing partisan politics to their kids.
Has the political scene in America devolved to such an extent that the President can't even speak in front of children without being accused of some ulterior motive? Unfortunately, this appears to be the case.
I've always believed that one of the many roles one assumes as President is to serve as a source of inspiration for future generations. As far as I can see, the President was doing just that, giving children someone to look up to. There's no evidence to suggest that his true purpose was some kind of liberal brainwashing. Obama should be applauded, not demonized, for his efforts to engage the youth of America in a meaningful manner.
Also discouraging is the method with which the administration has chosen to respond to these baseless accusations. Instead of acting with the righteous outrage such an absurd claim deserves, the administration has tried to assuage the people behind it.
Immediately wilting in the face of public opposition has traditionally been a weakness of the Democratic Party. Their propensity for acting defensive only lends credence, regardless of actual merit, to their opponents. Members of the opposition are well aware of this trait and have zero qualms using it to their own advantage.
Has the political scene in America devolved to such an extent that the President can't even speak in front of children without being accused of some ulterior motive? Unfortunately, this appears to be the case.
I've always believed that one of the many roles one assumes as President is to serve as a source of inspiration for future generations. As far as I can see, the President was doing just that, giving children someone to look up to. There's no evidence to suggest that his true purpose was some kind of liberal brainwashing. Obama should be applauded, not demonized, for his efforts to engage the youth of America in a meaningful manner.
Also discouraging is the method with which the administration has chosen to respond to these baseless accusations. Instead of acting with the righteous outrage such an absurd claim deserves, the administration has tried to assuage the people behind it.
Immediately wilting in the face of public opposition has traditionally been a weakness of the Democratic Party. Their propensity for acting defensive only lends credence, regardless of actual merit, to their opponents. Members of the opposition are well aware of this trait and have zero qualms using it to their own advantage.
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