Okay, Houston we have a problem. Sorry to coin an overused cliche, but it is true. With all the back and forth going on regarding this new health care "overhaul" it's tough to make heads or tails out of this incredibly huge and complex issue, but I have an answer. Yes, the Dalai Lama is here to make everyone feel good and just say, "aah!"
The President and most in his party are trying to implement one of the greatest overhauls, or implementations, or reforms this country has ever known. There are some who do not agree with them. I am confused. I hear one thing, then another, then I hear this and suddenly that is not what they meant. Confused? Yeah, me too! So, here is my shining light moment for the politicians, the President included. If he truly feels this is something we need to do then Mr. President with all due respect, here is my suggestion.
Instead of having all these town hall meetings, which for the most part, seemed to be staged events, (don't worry Obama supporters, Republicans do the same thing. No one escapes the wrath of my discontent) let's do something extraordinary.
I say that all major networks: ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN, and the other step-children wannabes broadcast a national debate. It can be done, after all it's summer, no one is really doing anything right? I'm just kidding, besides trying to survive most of us are trying our best to cope with a dysfunctional house known as DC, and all we want are facts. Okay, back on topic. Let's have a national debate, 1 1/2 hour deal where we hear from north, south, east and west, and let's have the President, majority leader Reid, speaker Pelosi, minority leader Boehner and senate minority leader McConnell along with "their" experts on stage and have them debate their positions. You can have Charlie Gibson taking questions from an audience in NY, Katie Couric taking questions in FL, Chris Wallace taking questions from an audience in Minneapolis, and finally you can have Brian Williams in CA. It will be an open lottery question for each audience, and then we can give each side the oppportunity to discuss their responses. Just like the old high school or college debate, each side will have equal representation and they can go at it.
If the government is really concerned about our "health", then this is something that can be done if they want it. Right now both sides are playing politics and like most Americans there seems to be a lot of confusion, and rather than having legitimate bi-partisanship, they are simply playing back to their base, or trying to steal some of the other parties faithful. It's disgraceful!
Okay, let's put a cap on this potentially explosive idea. An hour and half forum will allow the people to hear from the mouths of these taxpayer funded politicians and their positions and responses to questions without screening. I challenge our representatives to answer this call. If they truly care, they will consider this.
Lastly, this debate about people disrupting these town hall meetings, I think I have an explanation as to why these people are shouting. From a teacher's perspective it goes something like this. I try the soft appraoch, "Class quiet down please!" I try it again, they persist in their conversing. I get a little louder, but still there is no response. I then have to resort to something I hate because I feel I am "not being heard" and so I shout at them. See my point? These people feel they are not being heard and perhaps shouting (even though it's not the answer) is the only way they can get their attention. It's a subconscious thing it seems. Maybe not, "I DON'T KNOW!"
As always, your comments are welcome, and you don't have to shout because I hear you. Have a great day!
