YES!!!!
Dang it is hard to stomach what passes for news these days. Calling it news is being generous, I would call it pre-meditated disinformation. Sure, they will say they are trying to cover both sides of the story. One side is reality in which Barack Obama was born in Hawaii and is an American. The other side, well what can I say about the other side and still be respectful, says Obama was not born in the USA, and thus is not eligible to be president. Would you believe that over 50% of Republicans are either unsure if Obama was born in the USA or say is was not born here. Sadly I know some people in my family that fall into that catagory.
Along with the birther conspiracy, there are the teabaggers and the growing legion who oppose Obama's health care proposals. More disinformation being shoveled to folks making them fearful of government and our black president. What is there to be afraid of I wonder? Well, apparently the health care bills being formulated (not really even more than a vague outline) are going to send grandma and grandpa to early death. Also, anyone with disabled children, they get the axe too. That is what socialized medicine is all about right? Ever been to Europe and seen those piles of rotting grandparents and disabled children culled from society by their socialized medicine?
The disconnect is stunning in stupidity. On the news of rallies against health care reform were people screaming "Keep government's hands off my medicare". Other examples include the screams of socialism, socialism, socialism. Newsflash folks, Medicare, Medicade and the VA hospitals are all forms of socialized medicine that go back generations.
It seems the question is do we want government making our health care decisions? I wonder...as opposed to the for-profit insurance companies as is the current situation. The right wing has got a bunch of folks all worked up over this issue, so much so that they are fighting against health care reform that will likely vastly improve the health care system for the majority of them. Unfortunately many of us are too easily swayed by the politics of fear and mistrust of government. Seems like the right wing has been successful these past years complaining about how poorly our government functions, when in fact they have been the ones poorly running it.
Now we got some folks in power who are trying to make some changes. Trying to right the economy, trying to get out of two wars, trying to help the 30-50 million people without health insurance, trying to tackle energy, conservation and climate change. I am going to boldly say that the bulk of these problems they want to correct are because of Republican mal-governance. None of these issues are going away, and I also will boldly say that I am uncertain the Democrats have the best possible cures for the problems. But give them a chance. What is it, like 6 months that Obama has been president? How soon the right wing is calling for his head, comparing him to Hitler and nazis, predicting the demise of the USA and calling for basically armed revolt?
I try to reassure myself that much of this flack is from a tiny minority of people, frustrated they lost the last election, frustrated they are not being heard and fearful of our President. However the symbiosis of the conservative movement, the corporate media and influential lobbying groups (military-industrial, insurance, Wall Street etc.) is frightening. There is a whole network that basically takes Republican talking points and puts them on as actual news. Most of AM radio is Conservative pundits preaching the evils of Liberalism. In the wake of so much disinformation and right wing propaganda, it is no wonder so many fall victim to the siren songs.
Another worry I have is the complacency of the majority who enthusiastically supported and voted for Obama. We all shared joy and tears experiencing the historic events of the last year. But are we falling idle, over confident in the skills of the new administration? Do we forget the opposition and their will to maintain power? I believe the signs point to both, and the events stirred up by the well orchestrated Conservative movement suggest they are not going anywhere quietly. Unfazed by losing the last two elections by wide margins, the right wing appears to be mobilizing to use any means to regain power, including mob rule, violence and intimidation.
So what is the take home message? I guess one message is better educate ourselves, our friends and family. Do some fact checking, dis-spell myths/lies, and make our own opinions (Try not to let Rush make your opinions for you). Another message is not to underestimate the will of the right wing. We won the elections lately but that does not mean they will give up. Hope is still abundant within me and I hope to overcome some of this insanity.
Along with the birther conspiracy, there are the teabaggers and the growing legion who oppose Obama's health care proposals. More disinformation being shoveled to folks making them fearful of government and our black president. What is there to be afraid of I wonder? Well, apparently the health care bills being formulated (not really even more than a vague outline) are going to send grandma and grandpa to early death. Also, anyone with disabled children, they get the axe too. That is what socialized medicine is all about right? Ever been to Europe and seen those piles of rotting grandparents and disabled children culled from society by their socialized medicine?
The disconnect is stunning in stupidity. On the news of rallies against health care reform were people screaming "Keep government's hands off my medicare". Other examples include the screams of socialism, socialism, socialism. Newsflash folks, Medicare, Medicade and the VA hospitals are all forms of socialized medicine that go back generations.
It seems the question is do we want government making our health care decisions? I wonder...as opposed to the for-profit insurance companies as is the current situation. The right wing has got a bunch of folks all worked up over this issue, so much so that they are fighting against health care reform that will likely vastly improve the health care system for the majority of them. Unfortunately many of us are too easily swayed by the politics of fear and mistrust of government. Seems like the right wing has been successful these past years complaining about how poorly our government functions, when in fact they have been the ones poorly running it.
Now we got some folks in power who are trying to make some changes. Trying to right the economy, trying to get out of two wars, trying to help the 30-50 million people without health insurance, trying to tackle energy, conservation and climate change. I am going to boldly say that the bulk of these problems they want to correct are because of Republican mal-governance. None of these issues are going away, and I also will boldly say that I am uncertain the Democrats have the best possible cures for the problems. But give them a chance. What is it, like 6 months that Obama has been president? How soon the right wing is calling for his head, comparing him to Hitler and nazis, predicting the demise of the USA and calling for basically armed revolt?
I try to reassure myself that much of this flack is from a tiny minority of people, frustrated they lost the last election, frustrated they are not being heard and fearful of our President. However the symbiosis of the conservative movement, the corporate media and influential lobbying groups (military-industrial, insurance, Wall Street etc.) is frightening. There is a whole network that basically takes Republican talking points and puts them on as actual news. Most of AM radio is Conservative pundits preaching the evils of Liberalism. In the wake of so much disinformation and right wing propaganda, it is no wonder so many fall victim to the siren songs.
Another worry I have is the complacency of the majority who enthusiastically supported and voted for Obama. We all shared joy and tears experiencing the historic events of the last year. But are we falling idle, over confident in the skills of the new administration? Do we forget the opposition and their will to maintain power? I believe the signs point to both, and the events stirred up by the well orchestrated Conservative movement suggest they are not going anywhere quietly. Unfazed by losing the last two elections by wide margins, the right wing appears to be mobilizing to use any means to regain power, including mob rule, violence and intimidation.
So what is the take home message? I guess one message is better educate ourselves, our friends and family. Do some fact checking, dis-spell myths/lies, and make our own opinions (Try not to let Rush make your opinions for you). Another message is not to underestimate the will of the right wing. We won the elections lately but that does not mean they will give up. Hope is still abundant within me and I hope to overcome some of this insanity.
