- Sunday, December 20, 2009
- Sunday, December 6, 2009
- Sunday, November 8, 2009
- Sunday, October 25, 2009
Ihave just figured out why the opposition to heath care reform has been so intense. Indeed, the utter rejection of everything President Obama is doing seems unreasonable, and I have been trying for months to sympathize with where the tea baggers and town hollerers are coming from.
An avowed purpose of this column is to appreciate the bright side of things, as opposed to the doom and gloom. In the same spirit, I want to be able to see the anger of the president's opponents in the best possible light.
Their enthusiastic spirit is much like that of loyal sports fans. Supporting your team in good times and bad is a virtue ingrained in us from childhood, and in America we take it to extremes.
For example, only here are sports a big deal at universities, especially football. We are taught never to give up, no matter what the score and how far we are behind, and, even if we have lost the game, we will come back and win the next. If the season is over, there's always next year.
This never-say-die, my-team-is-right attitude is often admirable. Great comebacks are accomplished only by those who refuse to give up, who truly believe in themselves and their apparently hopeless cause against all reason.
In its finest form, it is the spirit parents have toward a severely disabled or otherwise troubled child: They will stand up for and cheer them on no matter what.
I think that is what the president's opponents are doing. For example, top Republican consultant Dick Morris, asked to grade Obama's performance so far, gave him a solid F, rejecting every single thing he's done -- even the bipartisan compromises on Guantanamo and Afghanistan that trouble Democrats. I believe this is Morris' way of supporting his "team" no matter what. Similarly, the unfocused anger of the tea baggers and town hollerers I now see as spirited, pep-rally support of their side, right or wrong.
That said, I don't think it is good for America or even their own cause. People who need health care, stimulus jobs and even cash for their clunker oppose these programs purely because they have been put forward by the other team. They are arguing against their own self-interest.
Take one common charge: "We don't want the government deciding our health care, because they can't even run the DMV."
Please do not fear a government takeover of your health care. First, all plans allow everyone to keep whatever care they have. What would be added is the choice of something like Medicaid, if you can't get or afford private insurance.
Second, your major medical decisions are currently made by insurance managers who make money off denying care whenever they can. Third, the government runs an excellent Veterans Affairs medical system.
And our local DMV does quite well, thank you. Please, let's all lighten up and try to work together for the common good. We, as Americans, are all on the same team.
Rick Boettger was a business professor before writing his book and hosting a 25-state talk radio show on political economics. He has done tax and financial advising in Key West since retiring here in 1996. Questions, information and differing opinions are welcome at rd.boettger@gmail.com.