I watched President Obama's speech last night. Thanks to the wonder of the internet and places like OS, I can open my big mouth and throw in with everyone else who has opinions about what they saw last night. Lately, I do not know if that is a blessing or a curse, but... it is what it is.
President Obama's speech was excellent. It would be hard to dispute the fact that he is a charismatic, well-spoken and poised speaker. He made his case clearly and concisely and I cannot disagree with much of anything that he had to say. I do wonder about the probability of implementing healthcare reform (which I absolutely agree is a necessity) without increasing the deficit. I do not see how that can be achieved, but then I never was any good at math. On the other hand, it does not make sense to me that it is possible.
In all honesty, all blustering and debate aside, we will not truly know the answer to that question until we are well into it, so, whether I, or millions of other Americans, believe or understand it, if it cannot be proven or disproven beforehand, in my mind it is a moot point. Well, maybe not a moot point, but certainly one that takes on less importance than the bigger issue of the disastrous current state of healthcare in our country.
Representative Joe Wilson showed a decided lack of class and comportment when he shouted out, "You lie!" like a schoolyard bully in the middle of the President's speech. Whether I voted for Obama or not (and no, I did not,) whether I agree or disagree with him, he is still the President of the United States, and as such, he is due the respect of every American, if for no other reason than respect for the office of the Presidency. Rep. Wilson should be ashamed of himself. Yes, I am aware that he called the White House to apologize afterward. Nevertheless, as my grandmother taught me so many years ago, you can never take back words that are spoken, or in this case, shouted. Apologize all you want, but the damage is done. Civility is either already dead, or it is dying a slow, painful death and Rep. Wilson's outburst was a very public example of that truth.
The Republican response to the President's speech was, in a word, LAME. At best. There are many words I could use to describe Dr. Charles Boustany's response, but lame is the first one that comes to mind. His five- hundred and forty-three-word speech said absolutely nothing. If that is the best the Republican Party can come up with in response to President Obama's speech, it does make one inclined to believe that the Republicans oppose the healthcare reform bill simply based on, "you're a Democrat, and so I disagree."
There are no simple answers to the fiasco that is healthcare in our country. The contributing problems are myriad and cannot be easily addressed. To believe that one massive reform bill can set the system right is ludicrous. It cannot happen in one fell swoop, but we must have a starting point. All questions and concerns cannot and will not be adequately addressed beforehand. There is simply no way to anticipate every roadblock or pitfall that we will face as a nation as our President seeks to untangle the bird nest of issues that brought us to this point.
It is time to stop parrying back and forth. It is time to take that first step into unknown territory. Succeed or fail, it is time to move forward.
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Comments
R.
GJI - No doubt.
You go, Girl!
CosmicIrony - I disagree. I think that MOST Americans are all too painfully aware that insurance costs in the US are much, much higher than anywhere else. Don't know where you live, but it's a reality we've been living for many years and the fact that insurance premiums have more than quadrupled in the last 20 years has not escaped anyone's attention. That, coupled with the fact that our health insurance companies have increasingly tied the hands of health care professionals has made us all too aware that our doctors are reduced to minor players in the grand scheme of health care. We have insurance monopolies banking mega-bucks and determining the quality of care we receive, pharmaceutical companies raping and pillaging with abandon, rampant Medicare fraud, malpractice suits and the accompanying sky-rocketing cost of malpractice insurance premiums driving doctors out of business - all of this a part of the aforementioned "bird nest of issues" facing President Obama.
No, I would have to say Americans are fully aware of the components that make up our health care fiasco, and the fact that it does seem so overwhelming contributes greatly to the firestorm of debate. No one disagrees that the private insurance companies are the villains here. But now that the monster has gotten so huge, the question becomes one of not just change, but also one of how to manage the collateral damage in order to get to the other side.
Scanner - thank you!
Rufus - oh yes, indeed. We're not all bubbas.
From what he said, it seems to me that the insurance companies are going to come out of this even richer. I will, however wait until he shows us more details. Last night he really just gave an overview of his plan without specifics.
I expected more, but I am still hopeful. It was nice to hear that he will "consider" tort reform...god knows we need that to help with the cost of medicine in America.
As for Mr. Wilson....the man is an idiot. If he does not know how to comport himself in the halls of Congress, then he needs to be sent home to spew his crap with the locals.
So I guess if I had to judge last night's speech, I would have to say: I expected a large leap forward, but what I got was a small step....but at least it was a forward step and not backward. I applaud the President.
Cartouche - Well said, Patricia. Thank you for adding the final touches to my "civility is dead" comment. So very true.
I know that it is a great deal of money. I chose to have faith because I have nothing else to go on. No one knows if the plan will work. The stimulus plan IS working, so that should give us a bit more faith that the health care bill will also work to a degree, too.
Bonehead also refuses to accept the fact that over 70% of Americans desperately want reform, and is reiterating the new GOP obstruction that Congress should go back to square one and "start over." The Party of Buffoonery and Charlatanism.
FOX News' coverage was totally in attack mode from the moment President Obama's completed his speech, and continued thusly all day today.
How is it possible an entire political "party" is so utterly devoid of scruples, common decency, or basic horse sense?
Civility is dead, along with common sense. They are the reasons I no longer discuss politics.
Rufus - In the words of the immortal Roseanne Roseannadanna, "It just goes to show ya. It's always somethin'!"
Ken - True. Sometimes, I just can't help myelf. :-)
Surly - That's what we need - free wonder pills for all!!!
We have to stop them.
It's great to read a post by someone who didn't vote for Obama, but does realize that the health insurance/ care system needs to be addressed. I wish the Republicans that "represent" me in Congress would get it. Thanks for the sanity, fellow Texan.
I was there after 9/11 when I just completely shut down to the bullshit machine which was American foreign policy and internal fear mongering..
I came back once it looked as though relatively normal people were running for president..and of course once Obama won, I was ecstatic.
But you know what..I came here and read this and I guess the shut off light came on while I was sleeping because I'm completely fed up again.
We had a whack job president for 8 years with an even bigger whack job as vice president and they pushed through every war mongering/fear inducing/right removing piece of legislation and they didnt give two flying shits what anyone thought. And here we are running fucking town halls and people bitching about how they want their country back.
It's all bullshit..It really is..and I hate to say this, but put your pencils down and write about Paris Hilton or something..Write about your local grocer and how theyre not buying locally from farmers or something.>Because i'll tell you..
It's all a bunch of bullshit..
I'm going back to bed.
Myriad: You can't remove profit from companies or there won't be any companies! What percent profit is reasonable for a return on investment?
WS
and you raise many. thanks for this post.
WS - I never said I didn't think it would pass. What I believe is this: there is no magic bullet. It won't be as simple as passing a healthcare reform bill. Once again - it's a whole bird's nest of problems and it will be a long, hard road to untangling that mess. I'm ashamed of a Party that I used to believe in and experience has taught me not to trust too easily, so I won't throw in whole hog with the other Party either.
And just for the record - I blame EVERYBODY. I'm an equal opportunity blamer.
Jane - Thanks for reading and for your comment.
The majority of us only started paying attention again when our nation reached the crisis point. Now we stand around and rah-rah ourselves hoarse waiting for some wizard to wave his magic wand and put our humpty dumpty nation back together again. But only when we aren't too busy pointing fingers and screaming with righteous indignation, "Look what the ________(insert your Party of choice here) did to this fine nation of ours."
Frankly, I don't care what label someone wears as long as they have a certifiable interest in fixing what is broken. And it's all broken, so we'd all better be prepared to roll up our sleeves and get involved in turning it around.