Now That We’ve Got Everyone’s Attention…

I taught government and economics to high school seniors for about ten years. There were always a few students who were up on current events and ready for lively debate. Needless to say, I enjoyed those students most of all, even if they didn’t always behave or make the highest grades. What caused me great despair were those students who just didn’t care about anything outside of their own little teenage world, and there were way too many of those. But they were not alone. I found that most of the adults I conversed with knew little about how our government works and didn’t care to learn. Economics was a giant bore to almost everyone I knew. I have always been interested in current events, politics, and economics, thanks in large part to my Dad’s influence and watching Walter Cronkite every night as a child. I learned, however, that while I had opinions on many issues, most people were not really interested in hearing them. I learned to talk shopping and football.

All of that has changed. All it took was the election of a controversial President and an issue that people are genuinely upset about – health care reform. It’s all people are talking about, and I hear it everywhere I go – the stores, restaurants, and, of course, doctors’ offices. I waited in line in one store while the cashier carried on a rant with several customers gathered round the counter. Complete strangers bring it up when I am out and about. It is amazing how much people are finally paying attention to a political issue.

And well they should. Our current health care system is probably unsustainable and does need reform, but if we don’t do it right, the “cure” could be much worse than the disease. This is an issue that affects every single American, and one that will hit us where it hurts – in the pocketbook. Whatever Congress and our President decide to do will have a tremendous impact on our lives, and not just financially. Our health and well-being are at stake. An issue this important and potentially life-changing needs to be studied, debated, and weighed very carefully before any kind of action is taken. American citizens need to be informed about the changes that will take place and should have the opportunity to voice their concerns. Particularly when our economy is in such a precarious state, we need to proceed with caution and not rush through legislation where the “devil is in the details.”

What we need is a calm, deliberate, and factual conversation between all interested parties – and that pretty much includes everybody. Unfortunately, that is not what we are getting. This issue, like every other, is thoroughly politicized, and people on both extremes of the liberal-conservative spectrum are throwing out all sorts of disinformation, making it almost impossible for people to know what is really going on. Without correct information, how can any of us know how to voice an opinion to our leaders? The White House has responded by establishing a web site, www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck, that purports to lay out all the facts, but of course, it is biased toward the more liberal, Democratic view. You can read it and then get the opposite, Republican-biased view from the Limbaugh crowd and wind up not having a clue what the actual truth is.

As a teacher in a small Christian school in the South, most of my students came from quite conservative backgrounds. They, like most young people, believed what they had been taught all their lives and gave their opinions very little real thought, nor did they question their own beliefs. As a conservative myself, though perhaps more moderate than some, I generally tended to agree with them. However, I wanted them to seek truth, think for themselves, and form their own opinions. Getting them to do that was not easy. I often told them that when people argue from two extreme positions, the truth is usually somewhere in the middle. I designed projects where they would have to gather and study opposing opinions on various issues and write reports giving both sides before reaching their conclusions. Then they would report their findings before the whole class and take questions. Very seldom did anyone change their original viewpoint, but they always came away with a better understanding of where those that differed with them were coming from. If they learned to research and think, I felt the project had been a success. American citizens need to do that now.

Doing the research on healthcare reform is difficult. Oh, there is a wealth of information out there, but much of it is biased and/or inaccurate. You have to look for the impartial and knowledgeable sites that have good information. If all you have are the letters flooding your email box, you probably aren’t getting a very good picture of things. We all need to check out the information that comes our way at such sites as Factcheck.org, Truthorfiction.com, or Snopes.com. I try to do this with any email I receive before forwarding it on.

Our Congressmen are back home where they are currently holding the now-infamous town hall meetings to try to inform us and answer questions about healthcare reform. They have been shocked by the numbers of people and the passion of the crowds that have turned out. Some Democrats have unwisely tried to dismiss the dissenters as “angry mobs” whose protests has been orchestrated by those who wish to “destroy the President.” That is almost laughable when you see the videos of halls filled with senior citizens. They, especially, are frightened and upset about the reform. They have many questions and concerns and deserve to be heard – you know, free speech and all that.

On the other hand, the representatives also deserve to be heard, and crowds that boo and hiss and drown out the speakers are denying THEM free speech and accomplishing nothing except making themselves look bad. Everyone just needs to chill out. We don’t need shouting matches; we need reasoned conversation that can actually lead to understanding. I urge each of you to do your homework and then join in such a conversation.