The right-wingers are pulling out all the stops to enlist the greedy, gullible and ignorant in their war against Obama and his policies. It has started to get ridiculous with phone surveys and mailers asking questions like "Do you consider yourself to be pro-life?" You can put that one up there with "Have you stopped beating your wife." They insist on yes or no answers and that is really playing to the dumb ass gallery. I am pro-choice.
I sent the last mailer back with a note..."I voted for Obama, I do not regret voting for Obama and I am in favor of the public option." The thing that gets me is that I really consider myself, as the title of this blog indicate, to be slightly left of center. In many ways, I am a moderate. As an example, I don't think that people should be allowed to enter the country illegally and avail themselves of public benefits. But I do think that all our citizens should have access to quality health care.
There is historical evidence which illustrates how extremist governments fail, some more quickly than others. Socialism, a very valid political philosophy, was taken to extremes in the old Soviet Union. Capitalism, another workable philosophy, has been taken to extremes by the far right and the past several Republican administrations. What people don't seem to realize is that neither is evil or perfect as they stand. But extremist capitalistic governments can disintegrate just as quickly and dramatically as extremist socialist governments. We are in the midst of just that kind of scenario in the US.
So, the idea here is that extremism is bad no matter what direction it takes. Medicine, which used to be a science and a higher calling is now an industry. HMO's, drug companies and medical supply companies are charging outrageous fees, inflating prices and witholding proper care from those who need it because of that sacred bottom line. Compassion and a desire to heal the sick seems to be absent on their priority lists.
If you look at nations that enjoy better standards of living and manage to stay out of the messy areas of trying to enforce their philosophies on other cultures, you will find something that the extremists on both ends want to keep hidden. The two philosophies can co-exist! WOW!
We already have socialistic structures in place in the US. We have free, public education, social security, workman's compensation, and more. These people who are screaming about the imagined horror of a public option and a real health care reform would be the first to raise a rumpus if that SSI check didn't arrive on time.
Capitalism is our energy and drive. It allows for us all a chance to improve our lot in life, individually and as a nation. Socialism is our national conscience. Even the most adamant right-wing conservative will piously agree with the New Testament admonitions to feed the hungry and tend to the ill. We are in the midst of a sea change in the US. It's either adapt or lose. Look up 'socialism' and read the definition If it isn't taken to extremes, it's not a bad thing. Capitalism, if taken to extremes is a recipe for disaster, revolution or worse. At this point, the far right has taken on a tinge of facism and hate and that worries me.
Think about it.
Think about it.
