Under the Georgia Dome
by Dwayne Hood

Sarah Palin declared her independence from the people of Alaska by quitting her job as governor on our nation’s birthday, the Fourth of July. She claimed to answer a “higher calling” to conservative activism in the private sector so she could fight for “truth and justice” for the American people.

Of course her higher calling has nothing to do with book deals, speaking tours or Fox News talk shows that will make her an instant millionaire and cement her place in history as the first major female voice of the Republican Party.

No, she’s doing it all for us.

Meanwhile, GOP stalwarts wish that South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford would answer a higher calling and resign following his bizarre South America love fest with his Argentine “soul mate.” Although his wife and sons have moved out and state residents from both political parties call for his removal, Sanford pledges to stay in office by comparing himself to the biblical King David who also cheated with another man’s wife.

Conservatives have mastered the art of using God and religion to get or keep what they want.

But little piety is now on display in town hall meetings nationwide as hordes of angry screamers shout down questions or debate on health care reform. These are the white, middle class self professed Christians and culture warriors who stoke rage and hysteria to prevent universal health care. It shows a raw ugliness in a struggle between the haves and the have nots. Those with health care want no change that may provide the same care for others.

More than 40 million people, 15 percent of our population, have no access to health care and skyrocketing costs are eroding our economy and driving millions of jobs overseas. For the past 50 years, Americans have griped, whined, complained and worried over health care costs and availability. Now, we have a president who wants to confront the problem and he’s vilified by the GOP.

But make no mistake. Republicans also want health care reform as long as it doesn’t cost anything, change anything or require any sacrifice of anyone. So they trot out their vague smoke and mirrors mantra of tax vouchers and market incentives to magically provide quality health care to the uninsured.

Unfortunately, President Barak Obama and Democrats are losing control of the national dialogue amid hysterical screams of socialism, government takeovers and comparisons to Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.
And remember Palin’s quest for truth and justice? She’s brought “death panels” into the debate by promising euthanasia if the poor get health care. And Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has shaken the specter of “pulling the plug on grandma” if government gets into the business of keeping people alive. Other conservatives promise tax funded abortions and health care for illegal immigrants to anyone who may have missed the Hitler comparisons.

Self righteous fear mongering is the only weapon the Party of No has to offer in its lockstep rejection of health care reform. Amid the raft of lies thrown out by town hall screamers, have we heard one Republican leader call for a civil debate based on facts and not fear?

No, because they are afraid of Rush Limbaugh, Fox News and a host of right wing pundits and commentators.

Never in American history has a major political party been controlled by a radio talk show host. But Limbaugh is paid $38 million a year to incite hatred and intolerance. And his legions of shrill screamers are high jacking rational debate.

Republicans portray our government as a big, corrupt, inept bully incapable of governing or providing for its people. They want to convince uninsured people that no health care is better than government health care.

Is our government really that bad? Are all of our federal efforts a dismal failure? Are Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare horrible programs? Is our military useless? Is the Postal Service incapable of delivering the mail? Are our publicly funded colleges and universities not educating people? Has our space program been a disgrace?

Republicans also want people to believe that government health care will drive private health insurers out of business, leaving only Big Brother in charge. Private health insurers made $12 billion in profits last year. Will government health care make them quit and leave the market? Will they find no way to compete?

And is competition really that bad? Republicans want you to believe that it is. They want you to be scared. They want you to be very, very scared.

In contrast, Obama has not explained in brief, concise terms exactly what his health care proposal is. It’s difficult for health care advocates to defend and promote a plan they do not understand. He also needs to be more forthcoming about the costs. A public option is going to cost a lot, change many things and will require a shared public sacrifice. That sets the stage for the greatest domestic debate since Civil Rights legislation of the 1960s

Are Americans still capable of governing themselves and confronting our national challenges? Can we still rationally debate issues and build consensus based on common values? Are we still capable of reason and compromise? Are Americans willing to sacrifice for the common good?

This nation was built on shared sacrifice. In the 1950s, President Dwight Eisenhower convinced Democrats and Republicans to vote in $114 billion in taxes on oil, rubber, gasoline and cars ($425 billion adjusted for inflation in 2006 dollars). Thousands of Americans were also forced to sell their land to the government at fair market value. People did not like the taxes or the land sales but that is how we built the 46,000 mile interstate system, the greatest public works project in US history. Are we still capable of such endeavors

Americans have been resting on the laurels of the Second World War for the past 60 years. Sending a man to the moon in 1969 was our last major accomplishment. The only thing we have done since is bicker among ourselves and kick around third world countries.

We now live in a 24/7 news cycle with instant communication through Facebook, Twitter, blogs and discussion threads. We spew hatred and tear down strangers behind the quiet comfort of fake names and then call it free speech.

It is a lot easier to curse and scream than it is to listen and learn.

Obama faces the greatest challenge of his presidency next Wednesday when he addresses our nation and a joint session of Congress. Americans and leaders of both parties should now answer a higher calling that transcends self interest and political ideology.
Our future depends on it.

Tags: Health Care Reform, President Barak Obama, Sarah Palin

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 3rd, 2009 at 4:58 pm and is filed under Guest Columns, National Health Care. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.