In an article in the New York Times, "Conservatives See Need for Serious Health Debate" it is mentioned that:
"Far from embracing the attacks, many leading conservative health care policy experts said in recent interviews that the dynamic was precluding a more robust real-world debate while making it nearly impossible for them to inject their studied, free-market solutions into the discussions.
And they said the focus on what they consider misleading or secondary issues was getting in the way of real questions about the plan they believed worthy of consideration."
Now although I don't agree with their solutions, or their findings, and the likes, this is still good. One of my worst ire with the GOP is these, absurd, I dare say asinine, arguments. Death panels, widespread political oppression, human euthanization, evil socialist America, fabricated ideas of traditionalism. If they want serious discussion, then that's great, that is what we need. Unfortunately, I think the majority of the GOP will stick to what they have already established.
Of course, I am no fan of conservatives; they are on the opposite side of the political spectrum as I, and it is only natural that I often do not agree with them. But that does not mean I hate conservatives. What I do hate, nay, despise, is the GOP. That's right, I despise it. It's not because it bills itself as conservative, not at all. It's because of the things it does, the things it fosters. Sure, the Democrats can, and have, said stupid things. To say they haven't is unrealistic and downright false. But the GOP takes it to almost mind-imploding levels. If you need any proof of this, just look at the Birthers and the Deathers. Now sure, you could, I suppose, contend the Democrats have PETA and Greenpeace, but that simply isn't the case. While those groups would, maybe, associate more towards Democrats than Republicans, the fact of the matter is they are not American "movements" but are rather actual organizations, and worldwide, mind you. They are not strictly American. I don't think you'll find the sheer amount of unintelligent, incompetent, or simply downright ludicrous, movements among the Democrats as that of the Birthers and the Deathers.
Sure, you could argue that the GOP doesn't necessarily endorse or associate themselves with either the Birthers, or the Deathers. Well, the validity of that is questionable at best. Even if that was the case (and I believe it's not), they are still repeat the same rhetoric as these movements, or at the very least enforcing it, though not necessarily using the same dialect. I mean, you have Republican politicians in Congress, Congress!, questioning if Obama was born in the US! This farcical argument of his birthplace has been disproven again and again, with evidence that is irrefutable to all but the most idiotic of people.
Their most recent attempt used a forgery certificate, which stated Obama was born in Kenya.
However, I do have to give some credit to the Deathers; at least they have to slug through a huge congressional bill. Not that it changes the fact that they are so full of absolute shit. From Betsy McCaughey and the endangerment of seniors (though I did enjoy her sound defeat on The Daily Show), to Palin's "death panels," to Rush Limbaugh's claim that the bill will have mandated circumcision. Or how about that there is a conspiracy to give health care only to Democrats, not anyone registered as a Republican - from the Republican National Committee itself. I even mentioned it earlier. But now that the elderly, veterans, and Republicans have been scared shitless (or at least attempts were made), a new target is needed. Who is that, you may ask?
Women. And breast cancer.
The Independent Women's Forum released an ad on their website (which you can watch here on Youtube). Well, first of all she goes onto the government-run health care plan, "paid for by taxpayers at huge costs." Well, the funny thing about that is, it's optional. You know what that means? IT. IS. NOT. MANDATORY. Meaning if you want a private insurer, then you can have one. Jesus Christ, how hard is that to understand? Next she says, quote:
"Independent experts say tens of millions of Americans could lose their current health insurance and wind up on this public plan."
Well, at least they'll HAVE some form of insurance, unlike the estimated forty-five, forty-six million plus, who do not, as of right now. So hey, at least when those tens of millions lose their coverage for a public plan, at least they're not alone as those without will now actually HAVE coverage! Oh, right, and also the fact that that is total bullshit as nobody is going to lose their private plans and be forced onto the public plan. Well, I suppose that's not entirely true. I should say, if the private plans don't bother to get better and compete, then collapse. But you know what? That's is one of the pillars of our capitalist society; corporate competition. If people start leaving them in favor of the public plan, well, it's probably because they suck at their services. If Target suddenly started losing droves of people to Wal-Mart, then clearly Wal-Mart is doing something the people like. Same thing here. If they want to compete with the public option, then maybe they should stop being such huge assholes and shape up as a reliable service.
Then, she talks about England's health care system, and how their survival rate for breast cancer is lower than the US. Well, that'd be worrisome- if we were going to have England's health care. Which we are not. Same goes to Canada.
And, last bit of discussion on this ad. Y'know, I came across something rather interesting about the statistics used by opponents of this health care bill. A research firm known as the Lewin Group is often used by the opposition.
"To Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House Republican whip, it is "the nonpartisan Lewin Group." To Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee, it is an "independent research firm." To Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the second-ranking Republican on the pivotal Finance Committee, it is "well known as one of the most nonpartisan groups in the country."
Well, Lewin Group, as it turns out, is, guess what? Owned by a health insurance company. In my personal opinion, I believe that they have every interest to release bad results in favor of blocking a public option. While I cannot say where the IWF got their statistics for their ad, you should still take all statistics, yes, even the ones I mention, with a grain of salt.
To rewind a bit, I just learned of a little gem; that Glenn Beck accused one Mr. John Holdren, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, that he was in favor of forced abortions and wanting to inject sterilants into our drinking water. Of course, I call bullshit. Let's see; Glenn Beck has population control, McCaughey has extermination of the elderly, Palin has death panels, well fuck, when is some one going to suggest Soylent Green!?
Continued on Part 2.
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