Weighing in on Healthcare Legislation and the Looming Lawsuits
To be honest, I did not closely follow the debate over health care reform. It seemed to me like most articles and broadcast media stories focused on all the name calling by politicians and their supporters rather than the content of the legislation. But now that its passed and newspapers have been printing the actual new provisions, it looks pretty good to me.
But I hate the current state of politics in the United States. It’s so divisive and there is so little respect shown between Democrats and Republicans. Our nation’s leaders should be setting a good example of how our government works, not screaming “liar” and “baby killer” from the floor of the House of Representatives.
And it seems that the current slate of partisan “news” shows are part of the problem. When the Rush Limbaughs, Glenn Becks and Keith Olbermanns (to a lesser extent) of the media get so worked up at people who disagree with their view, it sends the message to Americans that they should also attack people who disagree with their view.
Reasonable people can disagree about health care and other political issues. The fact that someone disagrees with me does not mean that they are a socialist, fascist, idiot, etc…. But that seems to be how many Americans think. And they are being led there by the politicians and the news media that covers them.
The whole scene makes me want to tune out of political debates altogether. I suspect that many other people feel the same way.
As soon as the health care reform passed, Governor Barbour and politicians in many other states announced plans to sue the federal government to try to have the new law held unconstitutional. At least least they didn’t announce plans to secede from the Union.
Will Bardwell and Tom Freeland have commented on the prospects of these lawsuits. I don’t understand how Congress can enact social security, Medicare and a national income tax, but not health care legislation. But I don’t have a problem with the filing of lawsuits. Sure they appear designed to ingratiate certain politicians with potential voters, as opposed to legitimate legal disputes. And why aren’t the same politicians suing to do away with social security and Medicare? I mean, can we really afford them? Of course, it would be political suicide to challenge them.
The judicial system is in place to resolve disputes and if anyone wants to challenge a law, that is the place to do it. So good luck with the lawsuits. The suits will probably lose and the American people could turn on those who file them if they decide that they actually like green eggs and ham, but I’m sure that they have thought about that.
But in the meantime, as Rodney King said: “can’t we all just get along?”
Although I disagree with your conclusion on the health care bill, I do agree with your opinions on the decline of civility in our debate. I don't think the decline of civility began in politics. It began somewhere in our society -- maybe on television. I can't bear to watch all the judges shows because of the crude and rude discourse. As a divorce lawyer, I particularly cringe at Divorce Court where they scream and yell and blame each other for the marital failures. Somewhere in the not too distant past, we tolerated that kind of behavior on tv. Tolerance leads to acceptance and acceptance leads to participation, as they say. So, here we are with crudeness and rudeness in all parts of our society -- television, public schools, churches, courthouses, and even politics. Maybe Mr. Smith should go to Washington again and restore some civility?