AF1 makes several good points in his letter about why health care reform is more of a political necessity in the States than just one party’s hobby topic. He’s said before that the Obama administration and the democrats generally need to work harder to sell their ideas on a personal level.
I’m afraid he’s underestimated just how much abuse Americans will demand can tolerate. In response to a woman asking how her brain-damaged husband will get proper care and treatment without health care reform, Sen./Dr. Coburn tells her to ask her neighbours. His reply garnered him applause. Got a brain tumour? Maybe Aunt Bea at the corner store can spot you some aspirin. Paraplegic? Why not ask the scout leader across the street if you can use his son’s soap box racer to get around when he grows out of it?
In Canada, a representative saying anything of the sort would have been chased down, tied up, and given a very stern talking to. In Germany, he probably would have had to announce his resignation before being allowed to leave the hall. But there are segments of the American public clamouring for these values presented with such callous and glib haughtiness. There’s some graffiti near my office that reads “It is not a sign of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” I think it’s a little strong for southern Germany, but it’s a shoe that might fit better elsewhere.
The video is brutal, and it even got "mainstream" media play, since it is being shown on this clip by CNN. What is missing here is the guy from CNN continuing by saying that Coburn is an *sshole, and that he's one of the most conservative members of congress.
ReplyDeleteThe abuse that the ignorant are willing to take is amazingly high..