I'm angry, too!

I'm angry, too!

If you've been paying attention to American politics lately you know the turmoil and strife around the healthcare debate. President Obama favors a system whereby all are required to have health insurance, and as you might suspect, the neo-con right has begun hijacking public discourse. In many ways, they are holding conversation hostage. I'm angry!

You know me - I don't much care for the conservative "neo-con" traditionalistic approach, a vision hell bent on fostering exclusivity, claiming patriotism for itself, undermining true American values such as education and tolerance, and economic prosperity for all, not just those lucky and fortunate enough to have been given access to the "golden ladder" of success. I don't prescribe to this worldview.

This time - instead of coming up with their own healthcare reform plan (they simply don't have one!) - conservatives are infiltrating democratic town halls with the goal to disrupt and create chaos, shout, yell, and scream, even shove and kick if it gets the point across. As many pundits have rightly pointed out, it reminds us of McCain-Palin campaign tactics: if you scream communist and yell traitor enough it comes true. Instead of engage in responsible and respectable discourse, we have the fringe right going around the country barging in sincere town hall discussions, wrecking havoc and bantering. Is this what it's come to?

It's true that they say - those who are afraid of change get stuck in fear. Those who are a fan of the status quo (in this country, an overabundance of straight white middle to upper-class men, who also happen to be the base of the Republican party) scream "NO" at every junction, resort backwards at every cross-roads to what is familiar and comfortable, a well-off position as patriarchs in a money dominated society. It's no wonder they are desperate. Americans can choose something different.

We may or may not get healthcare reform. If America gets caught up in fear tactics and desperation (think Bush-Cheney!) it won't happen. I'm not saying all democratic ideas are the best, I'm simply claiming ground to explore and discuss, negotiate, build consensus, re-examine our country's values and ethos. It's a shame this is being held hostage. A shame!

I'm angry too!