THE BATTLE OVER HEALTH REFORM: HEALTHY or SICK?

                       The Show Isn't Over Until.........

The following article was inspired by my reading Troy's article called:
The Democrats are Becoming Desperate Over Health Reform:

Troy said: 

"As I returned from vacation last weekend I became aware of the desperation of the Democrats and the White House over their socialist takeover of our health care system. After weeks of plummeting poll numbers and running scared at town hall meetings the administration and the Democratic leadership have resorted to the same tired tactics they have used for years. The politics of fear and race baiting has returned in full force in a feeble attempt to resurrect the health care power grab."

The rest of the article argues his point.

 My Response to Troy follows:

Maybe yes Troy, and yet again, maybe not. Try this perspective out. The Democratic leadership is not stupid. They full well have known that for 50 years (or so) health reform has been a great idea that when push has come to shove has not been pollitically push- through -able. There are of course many reasons for this. One glaring one is the obvious official position of the Republicans to deny Obama and the Democrats an historic victory at all costs. No lie, no over simplification, no fear mongering, no distortion of the facts is beyond their kin. So what? So I believe the Democrats and especially Obama,  figured this to be the likely scenario long ago. So how to deal with it effectively? How about the old "give them enough rope" routine with the genuine hope that enough good will and a modicum of by partisanship will win the day over the petty, narrow, sell your soul to the big companies mentality - resulting in good sense, actually prevailing. Well - so much for that sweet idea.! The Republican cynicism is transparent. So I think there is no other alternative than for the Democrats to fight it out among themselves, hammer out the best bill they can come up with - and write the 'clever Republican politicos' off - totally - if they insist that all they can come up with is the most clever obstructionistic ploy of the day. This is the end of the summer. Now the real fight begins. The calculated hot heads and the too easily fear induced populace have popped their corks. I understand that the issues are indeed complex and that is reasonable for reasonable people to strongly disagree. But this issue is too vital to have it lost with a calculated  conspiracy to deny the President (of any party) from achieving an objective that is of true benefit to all the people overlooking those that have no political savy.   What appears at the root of this issue besides greed, are a number of converging fears. Among these fears are: a fear of complexity, a fear of death and dying, and a fear of facing realistic limitations. Perhaps there are more fears but these three are formidable. We need to have an open conversation about coping with fear by facing the facts of reality. We simply cannot - should not - bury our heads in denial and let the loudest voices over ride common sense and reason. My bet is that President Obama will eventually win the day finding the just right note to inspire enough people to push through at least the beginnings of a necessary and significant piece of health reform legislation.