Joe Republican
I know this is dangerous to do, but I find myself wondering what the hell goes on in the mind of Joe Republican? Are they simply unaware that there position is incoherent? Or are they aware, but deliberately lying? Are they simply incapable of rational honest discourse? Do they not think at all? Do they conduct themselves this irresponsibly in their private matters?
They pretend that the only problem with healthcare is the democrat's proposed solution, and then offer nothing in return. Elected officials speak seriously, in public no less, of eugenics and Hitler. Public officials parrot, or are silently complicit in, analogies despicably inappropriate. Can you imagine the fear in someone that actually believes it?
Why wasn't there an immediate unequivocal condemnation by all media at the first mention of Nazis or euthanizing Granny? Are we actually in the 21st century? I keep thinking that the Republicans are all going to burst out laughing in unison and say "Ha! We really had you going there didn't we! Ok, now let's solve the problem."
Should we look back on this and say, "Oh yeah, those silly Republicans, they were just exaggerating, they didn't really mean to imply that Democrats would intentionally design death panels. Yeah, that was all just politics as usual, you know. Besides, both parties do it."
It is surreal that this is even a topic of discussion. Maybe I just need to lighten up. Or better yet, give up on figuring it out. It wouldn't be that hard for me. I'm set with my healthcare. And I have my own problems. Perhaps I worry too much.
Someone posted the quote about a man refuses to understand when his job is on the line. I think many repubs see their lifestyle on the line. They're so heavily invested in the status quo that they fear change.
And somehow they sell that fear of change to people that have precious little to lose under the present situation.
August 29, 2009 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
That too Donal.
C
August 29, 2009 10:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
They are scared shitless because they see it as a threat to their make-believe, illusionary view of the world.
C
August 29, 2009 10:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
For many Republicans, and all of the sub-set that I would call the Bush Base, being those who still refuse to acknowledge that Bush was nominated by, supported by, elected by and ideologically mated to the Republican Party, and, most important, that George W. and Republican rule was a disaster for the country and the world, the answer to this:
is these points are true. Do they conduct themselves this irresponsibly in their private matters? Many do, look at the over 100 prosecutions of Republicans from the Reagan administration, Iran -contra from the 80's and more recently Jack Abramhoff, Randy 'The Duke' Cunnigham, Rush Limbaugh, Gov. Sanford, etc.
GOP Bush Basers believe their white heroes when they lie to them with straight faces: "After McCain opened it up to questioning, one man angrily pointed at him and asked the senator why he deserves a better health care plan than him." link McCain's reply:
"I'm trying to get it for you," McCain told him. "We'll do it for you. We'll make it affordable and available to you."
Does anyone believe McCain is going to do that after 30 years in DC? On the contrary he has done everything to block affordable health care. McCain is nothing more than a serial abuser, a liar, and like children or wives who stick to an abusive father the Base will never face the reality of politicians like McCain. They can hold two contradictory facts in their heads, Orwell called it 'doublethink". McCain wouldn't even support re-aurhorizing SCHIP this January. So he is going to care about some adult male who wants his government plan? link For most of these people there is no hope, their thinking is too ingrained to ever change. The most one could do is turn them against one Republican snake oil salesman at a time.
August 30, 2009 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am beginning to think that health care reform is not only unachievable on the national level, it shouldn't be on the national level. The nation is consisted of about 50% crazies (look at the margin on the election), and the dividing line between the crazies and non-crazies seems to be the states borders. So there is enough room in the nation for both groups of people. I say let those states that want HCR to implement their own HCR. Its unAmerican (whatever that means) to impose choices on those who don't want them. Its unAmerican to try to prevent crazies from feeding on themselves. Its justice.
August 30, 2009 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunately, it isn't the "crazies" who are uninsured. They HAVE their health insurance and don't want others to have it. Frankly, I would love to have a referendum on health care reform, with this ad-on caveat: voting against it would immediately cancel that person's insurance.
August 30, 2009 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wouldn't say I am sure of the following but I am beginning to think it's got validity. There are a lot of really angry working class people (a different constituency, but bear with me) who have seen their middle class world collapse and have seen Obama-Geithner-Summers giveaway to the corporate/finance sector billions in bailout to the most culpable parties of the elite.These people haven't seen that much (if any) improvement in their life from anything the Democrats or Obama has done or is doing and have clearly seen the pro-corporate tilt. This mighht explain why they might hate Obama and the Democrats. Why they should turn to the Republicans is a mystery to me. I was driving behind a truck yesterday of a clearly just-getting-by guy who removes junk and his truck was decorated with flag decals and one saying "I love everything liberals hate" but no religious decals. So it's not just the religious component driving middle and working class to the Republicans/
August 30, 2009 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you've got it basically right. The fury is mostly directed at HCR because that is what the town meetings focus on. But the underlying unease is caused by the collapsing economy, fear of losing one's job, benefits, house, etc. Most people can sense that America is on the downside of its greatness, and that this slide could accelerate suddenly, without warning. People have a vague sense that the bailouts were a criminal enterprise, that we've all been f'ed big-time by the financial oligarchy that runs the world. There is anger at this and some protest, but I think it has been somewhat blunted by all the black propaganda aimed at convincing us that a recovery is imminent, that Bernanke and the financial wizard class really does know what it is doing; maybe things will work out, let's wait and see.
When they see what a cruel hoax this really is, that is, when the collapse hits full on...well, lord help us then. Who knows what kind of chaos will then ensue?
August 30, 2009 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I also meant to comment that I don't think the people who are against Obama, or the ones who are turning against him in the recent period are necessarily turning to the GOP. Perhaps a few, but the GOP is a dead man walking. I think these people, and I agree with them to a certain degree, are just totally fed up with both parties. They see that whoever gets into power slavishly follows the dictates of the oligarchy and curries favor with said elite by volunteering to screw their constituents harder than Congressman X or Senator Y.
August 30, 2009 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
If George W. Bush was in for a third term it is interesting to wonder how much worse things would have to get before the wingnuts would finally face reality and admit he, their party, and their ideology led this country into disaster.
August 30, 2009 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wingnuts are a little different breed than what we are trying to understand here. I heard the Barney Frank town hall (on C-Span?) and I was struck by the inchoate anger and in particular the conflating of suspicions with anger at the bailout. There were also wingnuts faithfully parroting a lot of right wing nonsensical propaganda, but I was trying to get a handle on some of the former. Like Unmitigated Authority, I share some of their anger at both parties, and in particular I share their anger at the bailout and ther Democrat's preserving (strengthening?) the most culpable part of the financial elite at public expense.
August 30, 2009 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I share their anger at the bailout and ther Democrat's preserving (strengthening?) the most culpable part of the financial elite at public expense.
It is not often that one can witness the blossoming of class consciousness before one's own jaded eyes...
August 30, 2009 7:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
What you've identified is the fact that today's Republican party is highly comprised of zealots. Whether they are foreign policy oriented (the Neocons), or are domestic policy oriented (the Christian Conservatives), or are anti-government oriented (the Reagan-ists), what they share is zealotry. In many respects, zealotry is all that many Republicans share.
August 30, 2009 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I left out the GOP economic policy zealots. The trickle-down/supply-siders.
August 30, 2009 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not just zealots. Paranoids. I visited my 87 year old mother and even she can see it. Example..gun sales through the roof. Example...pit bulls as pets as well as other attack dogs. I could go on and on. The only thing missing are the hallucinations. We already have the delusions of grandeur.
C
August 30, 2009 6:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Why wasn't there an immediate unequivocal condemnation by all media at the first mention of Nazis or euthanizing Granny?"
There in lies probably 90% of what is going on. The MSM absolutely LOVES the wingnuts - drama, excitement, shouting, guns, Nazis! What CEO looking at their bottom line could ask for more? Oh yeah, I forgot, they are waiting and praying and hoping and wishing for actual gun fire - SHOCK and AWE at the town hall! They wouldn't even have to pay a foreign correspondent.
August 30, 2009 7:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
There is only one media that I can think of that would say somthing about this, that is Link TV. All the others, well look who owns them. Link is funded by the public. They will and have reported news stories without being told that they cant air that story, or else. Now days, you are guilty untill proven inosent, by the major net works. Where has Democracy gone?
September 25, 2009 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Although insurance companies and many self interested well to do citizens are certainly soaking up some undeserved profit and benefits from the current healthcare system, I think the Democratic cry for high quality, lower cost healthcare for all is a little idealistic.
Many of us are getting really, really expensive mediocre healthcare through our plans which, even though our employers pay the freight, our employers also charge more in the marketplace for the products and services they sell, to cover the high cost of our healthcare. Competitors who offshore labor and/or manufacturing, or simply don't pick up the tab for their workers healthcare charge what the market will bear and pocket all that money as profit or increase market share by selling a bit cheaper, pushing the wares of companies with the most experienced, best compensated, and usually most productive workers into under-employment,
The solutions being presented will only further exacerbate this situation in my view. The healthy and wealthy who have found ways to pay very little into the overall health system and get exactly what they want out of it may have even more and cheaper ways to get healthcare under the proposals.
Those paying (through employer or individual plans) private health insurance premiums will bear even more of the brunt of the healthcare system's continual push for more and more healthcare in my view. The fact that the current healthcare model has made the most expensive per capita healthcare system seem "expensive" even though the vast majority of people see ANY out of pocket expense as thievery and want to buy health insurance for less than half of what it truly costs.
August 30, 2009 8:16 PM | Reply | Permalink