The debate (?) on Health Care Reform

Dear readers,

As always, I apologise for the long hiatus. The job search and my role as a domestic god and trophy husband has kept me pretty busy over the last several months. However, I feel the need to comment on the current debate.

For some of you that know me on my FB page, I made the following query:

"Here is a question for both sides on the health care issue: Say you undergo treatment for stage 4 cancer and actually survive. The price to keep you alive puts a strain on your finances where you almost lose your home not to mention the strain it puts on your personal relationships. You then lose your job and health coverage in the midst of your continuing treatment. What do you do?"

By way of full disclosure...this is pretty much autobiographical. So the issue is very close to home for me.

There are two sides to this thing...those for and those against. The passion is evident on both sides, however, the tactics and the strategies leave a bad taste in the mouth of this very proud and fiercely independent voter.

I will admit that I got pretty much whipped into a frenzy the other night while watching The Rachel Maddow Show as she exposed some of the so called "grassroots" organizations behind the recent "protests" at various congressional town halls across the country. My original post (yes, this is actually version #3) was a really long rant that pointed out the hypocrisy of these so called protests and their value to the debate. To be honest, it was more like a manifesto...and longer than it needed to be. However, it helped me get a lot of stuff off my chest and helped me calm down. With a cooler head, I type this now.

Those that know me well, and I do mean those of you who know and understand my political stance, know that I have a equal disdain for both political parties. I generally do not trust or believe much of what comes out of any politician's mouth...especially during a campaign year. But by way of trying to aide the dialogue, I humbly offer three and only three pieces of advice for each side and one for everyone:

For the Democrats/liberals/health care reformers:

1. You've done a really bad job of getting your message out. Your acting like a bunch of "smarter than anyone else in the room" school boys/girls and while you won "THE" election, all the other kids are starting to get pissed off at your attitude. Check that "...We know what's best for you..." stuff at the door and really start educating folks on your position. I'm currently available and I could help...for a fee of course.
2. Arm your supporters with information. This is basic Communications 101 here folks. There are a lot of folks out there willing to spread the word, but how can you expect them to explain it if even their local representative or senator has a tough time doing so?
3. Confront your critics. You have enough video footage and surveillance on these so called town hall protests to know what the "concerns" are. Clearly, and without the "attitude" mentioned above, state the facts. Answer each new "concern" and repeat. Over and over and over again. Stay on message. You know this stuff...you really don't need me to tell you, do you? And if you do, I am available for the right price.

For my Republican/conservative/anti-reform/Limbaugh minions:

1. The protests caught them off guard. You've made your point. Now back off! You risk overkill if you do this too long...and with that will come backlash. While you have your traditional base all worked up, you are risking irritating the vast majority of independents (there are more of us than you realize) and frankly ticking off all the younger voters that brought about this so called "change we can believe in". Just by way of the "circle of life" and statistics...this is a numbers game you will lose.
2. My #2 from above is the same for you, with one notable change: Arm your supporters with information. This is basic Communications 101 here folks. There are a lot of folks out there willing to spread the word, but arm them with facts instead of fear and conjecture. Again, there are many in your base that will believe everything you tell them because you are their trusted source of information. But don't forget that they have relatives that are younger with more access to the Internet and other media sources. If your scary bedtime stories start to be shown as the paranoid fairy tales of a delusional movement...you are toast.
3. Get the lobbyists, special interests and big (pharmaceutical) business out of your so called "grassroots" movement. You did a much better job of this during the "contract with America" days. Now you are just plain sloppy. These guys with the used car salesman grins and flimsy denials that they are "normal, average Americans" although they are multi-millionaires and corporate PR pros are hurting your cause. It is the height of hubris to think they can go on with a hostile media personality who has done their homework and expect to do well by regurgitating the "company line". Same goes for those puppets you've trotted out as your "real Americans". At least get them a proper teleprompter and an ear piece so you can help them. They get flustered on camera and start reading from the notes you gave them like mindless droids. Geesh! Again, I am available to either side for the right price...to serve as a consultant or work hands on.

Lastly, I refer back to my question much earlier in this piece and ask BOTH SIDES to stop playing politics. The race (and mid-term elections) will be won by those that really try to give the appearance of working together for a compromise instead of this endless bickering. Get it done. Neither side will get EVERYTHING they want, but this is obviously important enough of an issue to garner this much energy. Get it done. All of us sometimes quiet independents voters that you now covet so much will judge you not by how much you didn't do, but what you did do. Get it done. Get it done. Get it done.

Thanks for reading....

T