No healthcare reform? The American people will bear a fair amount of blame.

[cali]

The fearful, gullible, selfish masses are culpable right alongside the politicians and insurance companies.

What happened to all the people who supposedly supported single payer or a real public option? If we're the majority, we're not doing a very good job speaking up. Even if we're the minority, we're not doing a very good job.

Yesterday, Bernie Sanders held 2 healthcare forums. At the one in Rutland, 600 people showed up. Even here in Vermont, there was vocal opposition, and more than a few people who had bought in to the idiot death panel crap. This is a state where Obama has his highest approval ratings, a state renowned for being liberal. If the idiot lies about healthcare reform, single payer and the public option are taking root here, then what hope is there in the rest of the country?

[ejpoeta]

1. they won't accept any blame for anything. No matter what happens, it will be someone else's fault.

The american people will breathe a sigh that they got rid of evil government healthcare, and then their insurance will go up again and they will bitch. And their copays will go up, and they will bitch. And they'll blame the government for not doing something about these evil health insurance companies. And they won't make the connection.... that the government DID try to do something about it.

[newfie11]

7. I totally agree with you!

I have never seen such stupid people as what is shown on TV. Other countries that have nationalized health care must think we are all demented.

[Selatius]

2. I see the flipside of the coin. I live in Mississippi.

From my vantage point, it looks like there is very little hope of change as far as having an informed citizenry goes.

Sadly, if health care reform cannot be achieved, then a solution can only be implemented after the current system in place collapses entirely in on itself. A lot of people will die as a result in such a catastrophic failure, but hopefully, from the ashes, a new system can be built "from scratch" as Obama said. Maybe a single-payer system. It'd be a shame that so many did die to get to that point.

[MadHound]

3. Blame the victim, eh.

Sorry, but I don't have time to attend a town hall meeting here in Missouri, much less one in Vermont. I have written my members of Congress, repeatedly, but if the measure of support is turning out for town hall meetings, well, I've failed. I suppose I should just put student teaching, working on my senior thesis, working on my farm, dealing with a gravely injured father in law all aside so that I can spend most, if not all of a day traveling to one of these events and attending it:eyes:

You see, that is part of the problem. The opponents of health care reform, the ones who are turning out for these town halls are older, probably retired, and thus have the time to spend on attending these events. Many ordinary folks, like myself, simply don't have that kind of time, we've got a real life going on.

But despite the letters and other shows of support, you're going to blame the victims in this case, simply because we're too busy to show up to a town hall meeting. Classy.

Sorry, but town hall meetings aren't the sole measure of support for this bill, and frankly and Congress member who takes them seriously this year is an idiot. Count up the emails, letters and calls, that will provide a better picture than astroturfed town hall meetings.

[pampango]

4. Indeed. One of the problems with the "average citizen" playing a role in governing

a country. Vested interests can rile up irrational fears to prevent change or direct it in a direction that benefits these interests.

In that sense people end up with the government that they "deserve". How do you involve a large number of "average people" in governing when they have such a wide (and often depressing) range of understanding, selfishness, and malleability?

[rucky]

6. That's why the press used to be called "the fourth estate"

not so much anymore.

[Echo In Light]

8. Not for four decades now...and prior to that wasn't much different.

[kevinbgoode]

5. reminds me of an old poster I had some 40 years ago. . .

"America: We're only in it for the money."

[Bluzmann57]

9. Yep. All of us.

Each and every one of us who are American citizens will be to blame. Sorry that I have a job, am in the process of adopting a non caucasian daughter, a wife, and an actual life. I am to blame because I quite simply don't have time or money to attend town hall events all over the USA. Sorry that I have done nothing more than write ltte's and contacted Senator Grassley. I know I should do more even though, as earlier stated, I have a lot of things going on right now. Oh well, maybe I can do more. In case you haven't figured it out, at least some of this post is :sarcasm:

[Bandit]

10. USA..USA..USA..USA.."We Don't Care".."We Don't Care".."We Don't Care"

Makes you proud to be an American doesn't it?