Is there a simpler explanation for the recent spat of shout downs at town hall meetings?

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: BoberFett

Originally posted by: Vic
Why weren't these 'gray hairs' as outraged in 2003, I wonder...

Because they're paid Republican operatives, obviously. It's the vast right wing conspiracy at work.

IF you had read my earlier posts in this thread, you would know that is not what I believe.

I was referring to the MMA of 2003 (aka Medicare part D), the most sweeping and expensive health care reform act yet passed by the govt, but which the elderly did not complain about because they were the only ones who benefited from it.
As always with all forms of socialistic policies, the actual fight is over who gets to feed at the govt trough, and (despite the usual red herrings) not about whether the govt trough should exist to fight over in the first place.

And you should know me well enough by now Vic that I wasn't referring to you, and that I think you're one of the few sane Democrats.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
And you should know me well enough by now Vic that I wasn't referring to you, and that I think you're one of the few sane Democrats.

I'm not a Democrat, I'm just not voting Republican at this time.

 

[stateofbeasley]

This thread is insane.

The amount of accusations and vitriol on both sides of the aisle is just crazy.

I can see the perspective of those who oppose the reforms because they are overwhelmed by the speed and complexity of the legislation. I am baffled though that people think their own elected district representatives would put them before a fictitious "death panel" or other such nonsense.

I think there are many factors at play here.

(1) People are genuinely confused. Health care is a massively complex system. There's no way to explain it in a couple buzz words, while it is easy to spread fear with frightening, simple phrases.

(2) Economic hard times and changing demographics add fear to the equation. I see it in my community on a daily basis. White, English-speaking citizens are genuinely afraid of the growing Latino population. I hear stuff all the time about "we will be forced to speak Spanish" and "why do all the telephone help lines have Spanish?"

Why is this relevant? With people out of work, or seeing their hours cut, they need every dollar and resent every dollar that goes to the government. I can't say I blame them. When you have to make the rent or put food on the table, every dollar counts. Many people don't believe expensive reforms can come without an increase in taxes. And there is a fear that the reform will include illegal immigrants (code word for Latino immigrants generally) and that tax dollars will pay for it. The truth is that some people don't want their tax dollars going to help "those people".

Complexity, uncertainty, and some xenophobia. I don't think these are new challenges though, or even unique to the United States.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Ferocious
Yeah I didn't hear much uproar over Bush's drug act. Some estimates have it costing over $1 trillion its first decade.

Reminds me of levies that help to pay for public schools and programs. While the boomers were rasing their kids, this was a non-issue. Schools had plenty of money, kids could enroll in multiple sports, field trips were much more common, etc.

Now the boomers vote down nearly every school levy that comes their way. Stated reasons vary....but the obvious reason is most of their own kids have all finished High School.

Bingo!

 

[MadRat]

Originally posted by: Ferocious
Yeah I didn't hear much uproar over Bush's drug act. Some estimates have it costing over $1 trillion its first decade.

Refreshen my memory, or at least give me a bone so it helps me research this claim. Thanks in advance.