Random Summer Thoughts and Health Care Reform
I couldn't start a blog entitled "Random Summer Thoughts" without this comment - damn it's been a hot summer in Fort Lauderdale. Is it global warming, a cyclical occurrence, or am I just getting old and cranky? The wife votes #3!
There's not too much local news to report. The Fort Lauderdale City Commission is on vacation, and most Fort Lauderdalians are either holed up in their air conditioned home, office, and car - keeping a low profile, or are off to some exotic cool locale themselves (can we say hello Rodstroms!).
hello Rodstroms!
But the most fevered part of this summer hasn't included meteorology at all. It's the steamy Health Care / Health Insurance Reform controversy. Like many of you, I've been glued to the screen, captive of the car radio, reading all the papers I can find. I am fascinated. Here are some of the more common comments we've witnessed:
............ we're losing our liberty
............ the country is going communist/socialist
............ no government control of health insurance/ keep your hands off my Medicare!
............ Obama doesn't care about you, only about control
............ They want to pull the plug on Grandma!
But I think much of the opposition to reform is rooted in a deeper psychological place than those superficial sound bites would portray. Here's what I mean:
The bulk of the people yelling at the town hall meetings look quite alike - kinda like me - older, quite white, and basically crabby!
older mad white guy
Yes, I've come to the conclusion that a lot of the angst and consternation we are witnessing is because the country is changing it's flavor, it's complexion, it's make-up, and there might lie the rub.
As I was growing up pure WASP, it was pretty clear to me that I would have a leg up when I reached my current ripe old age of 53 years-old. I would be in charge, on the top, competition restricted.
After all, woman weren't equal to us guys just a decade or two ago. Hell, back in the day, woman stayed home, had babies, cooked dinner! Now they are running corporations, demanding equal pay!
And blacks, hispanics, asians, foreign borners, homosexuals, even the disabled knew their place.
Soon, if I live long enough, I'll be the minority! And yes, there just might lie the rub.
There's not too much local news to report. The Fort Lauderdale City Commission is on vacation, and most Fort Lauderdalians are either holed up in their air conditioned home, office, and car - keeping a low profile, or are off to some exotic cool locale themselves (can we say hello Rodstroms!).
hello Rodstroms!
But the most fevered part of this summer hasn't included meteorology at all. It's the steamy Health Care / Health Insurance Reform controversy. Like many of you, I've been glued to the screen, captive of the car radio, reading all the papers I can find. I am fascinated. Here are some of the more common comments we've witnessed:
............ we're losing our liberty
............ the country is going communist/socialist
............ no government control of health insurance/ keep your hands off my Medicare!
............ Obama doesn't care about you, only about control
............ They want to pull the plug on Grandma!
But I think much of the opposition to reform is rooted in a deeper psychological place than those superficial sound bites would portray. Here's what I mean:
The bulk of the people yelling at the town hall meetings look quite alike - kinda like me - older, quite white, and basically crabby!
older mad white guy
Yes, I've come to the conclusion that a lot of the angst and consternation we are witnessing is because the country is changing it's flavor, it's complexion, it's make-up, and there might lie the rub.
As I was growing up pure WASP, it was pretty clear to me that I would have a leg up when I reached my current ripe old age of 53 years-old. I would be in charge, on the top, competition restricted.
After all, woman weren't equal to us guys just a decade or two ago. Hell, back in the day, woman stayed home, had babies, cooked dinner! Now they are running corporations, demanding equal pay!
And blacks, hispanics, asians, foreign borners, homosexuals, even the disabled knew their place.
Soon, if I live long enough, I'll be the minority! And yes, there just might lie the rub.
Sad to say I agree with your conclusion about a lot of the most vocal opponents of anything done by Obama. To compound the matter, I believe that the Republican Party is deliberately using this angst to try to win a political victory. The tea-party type protests that I have seen are generic; no taxes, no healthcare, keep our guns- a wide range of issues. They protest that they want their country back-back from who? I overheard three ladies in the elevator yesterday talking with excitement about an upcoming protest in Weston. One of them said that she had been to a tea party protest and they are lot of fun, come, you can protest anything, just bring your sign! I wondered if I should show up with a sign protesting intolerance.
Thanks for your blogs, Tim. I look forward to them.
Best regards,
Reply to this
Welcome back, Tim! As usual, you've cut through most of the malarkey and smokescreens that have been put out there on the healthcare debate and gotten directly to the crux of the matter and why the outcry and opposition is so extreme on this.
'Final Answer': the changing population of the U.S. is beginning to render the old white guys network impotent...and as we all know, there's nothing more frustrating to a bunch of old white guys, no matter how rich and privileged, than to be rendered impotent. Which, of course, may well be why we see even more vehement protestations at the town halls from older white women! Hmmm...have to think about that one for a few minutes.
In any case...the changes in population and U.S. voter demographics are undeniable and I commend you once again, Tim, for cutting to the chase. Good to have you back!
Reply to this
very nice, and I agree. Oops, the rules changed....and I don;t like it. A black president and a Puerto Rican on the supreme court, Lord have mercy. I am going to go call Obama a Nazi......
Reply to this
quite on point---you oldster you!
Reply to this
First of all Tim you are not old! Your still very young at heart.
However, I do believe that the white people are the "minority" now, but still unable to get the help from the government like the many others. (welfare, food stamps etc.)
Yeah I believe Obama has really changed his tune since he stepped into the White House.
Reply to this
Actually, white people can (and are receiving) every public assistance option, if they qualify. As a black woman, I have NEVER qualified for anything- from free lunch in grade school, to financial aid in college, to first time home buyer's programs, to a mortgage modification-refi. And I did not grow up in the best of neighborhoods. Woe is me...J/K! I am truly blessed, that's all. Tim, you rock, but white people never have to worry about being "the minority"! Trust me on that!
Reply to this
Maybe Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber inspired folks to stand up and show their ignorance. What's the old quote? Something like, "better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you're stupid than to open it and remove all doubt."
Reply to this
Or perhaps people know that the same government that budgeted a Cash for Clunkers program that was supposed to last 4 months and ran out of money it 12 days has no business in the health care business????????
Reply to this
Tim . . . As another old white guy, like you born in the mid-50's . . . I'm also in fear! I don't want to loose my country. (a country where people care about each!) I'm afraid my fellow Americans, will again let commercial concerns use fear to confuse the hope for real ethical health care debate.
Imagine we had the same system for Fire Fighters. Imagine a home fire, children trapped . . . who's saved, how, using what resources . . .Depends if they are insured, with whom and if approved. I'm in fear, putting morals & ethics over money, will be lost again in fear.
Reply to this