That's Life: Drowning Out Healthy Discourse

By Phyllis McGuire
iBerkshires Columnist
11:58PM / Monday, August 31, 2009

Print | Email |

Important

0

Interesting

0

Funny

0

Awesome

0

Infuriating

0

Ridiculous

0

I have often been complimented on being very patient. 

I do not tell you this to boast, but to make a point. You see, even I am amazed at how patient people in our government's Executive and Legislative branches have been under trying conditions. I refer to recent town meetings and the battle over health-care reform.
 
How Barney Frank did not just throw up his hands and walk out when he was bombarded by despicable accusations during the town meeting at a senior center in Dartmouth last month, I will never understand.
 
When one woman stood in front of a microphone, presumably to take advantage of an opportunity to put a question to Congressman Frank, did she ask a legitimate question? No. While holding a poster of President Obama on which she had painted a Hitler moustache, she ranted and raved about people who support health care reform being Nazis.
 
Frank indicated that there was no point in trying to reason with someone like that. "It would be like talking to the dining room table," he said. And then he stated a truth no one, regardless of party affiliation, could deny: "It is a tribute to the First Amendment that this kind of vile, contemptible nonsense is so freely propagated."
 
Yes, Congressman Frank stood his ground, with dignity.
  . 
I have not lived in a bubble, yet I am shocked by how cunning and deceitful people can be when determined to discredit those with whom they disagree. For instance, how can anyone seriously accuse President Obama of wanting  to  kill off "grandma?"
 
I am a hopeless worrier and a senior citizen, but I realize that is a ridiculous supposition that is more likely not the figment of anyone's imagination, but a well-thought out attempt to throw fear into the older population.
 
And the health care issue seems to have brought forth all the selfish, greedy people in our society who are of the  "take care of myself and the hell-with-everyone-else mentality."
 
It was undoubtedly people of that ilk at the Dartmouth town hall meeting who protested, hollering and making indecent gestures, when Congressman Frank broached the subject of tax increases on the wealthy. Such people have made it clear time and again that they don't care if the poor or unemployed have health insurance, especially if it would interfere with their lifestyle.
 
A man being interviewed on a TV news program actually said, "If you can't afford health insurance you just shouldn't have it." I guess that man is unaware of the definition of compassion.
 
There are people at town hall meetings who are resurrecting the battle over Social Security benefits. You know, asking, "Why should the government give money to the disabled or unemployed?"

Well, it does not take a statesman, a genius or a Sister Theresa to come up with an answer: "To prevent those who have fallen on hard times through no fault of their own, from becoming homeless and going hungry."
 
Some objectors to health-care reform claim President Obama is trying to shove his plan down our throats quickly so that there is not sufficient time to weigh its flaws. That argument seems invalid, considering that months have passed since the president made his views and hopes on the issue known to the public, as well as Congress. 

And in televised public meetings, congressmen and the president himself have proven they are willing to listen to people's concerns.

But, sadly, some people attended town meetings not to become better informed or to respectfully voice their opinions, but to be disruptive and squelch intelligent discussion.

• North Adams Events: Feb.10-14
• Pittsfield Solons Talk Art, Culture and Politics At Forum
• City To Move Forward With Methadone, Suboxone Regulation
• Cultural Pittsfield: Feb. 10 - 16
• Lenox Library Planning 'Party of the Century'