I was lucky enough to attend one of Congressman Sam Farr's Town Hall meetings on health care tonight in Salinas and came away with an even greater desire to FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!Farr, who represents the 17th District (the entire coast of Monterey and Santa Cruz County), is a much better person than most as he was able to deflect the negativity of some truly angry lunatics on the right, while appealing to his fans on the left. Though I'm not a violent person, after a few hours of listening to the uneducated rants of the privileged, I was ready to hurt a few and send them crying right to their individual health care providers.
This was Farr's fourth such forum in the last few weeks, so I'm sure he's heard almost every opinion. The person that pissed me off more than all others was a guy who told Farr he needed to listen to those that oppose President Obama's health care legislation because they make up the majority of the audience at all of his forums. Probably the greatest reason more of the dissenters show up at these meetings - and there were also plenty of supporters there as well - is because many of the working class people who need health insurance are actually working at night. They're the ones that served you at the restaurant you frequented before the meeting. Better yet, they're the ones at your home babysitting your kids so you can attend.
The greatest irony of the night was reserved for the people who called out Farr for not reciting the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the meeting. The right always act like they're the party of patriotism. After rudely interrupting Farr with an impromptu rendition of the Pledge, it was great to see them all get a little humbled when they were called out for the final refrain, "......and justice for all." That's what health care reform is all about - JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I hope the health care reform haters were proud to be represented by a mother who brought her small children to the event, and was carrying a sign that read, "Hitler and Stalin would've loved HR 3200." Even better was the guy wearing a homemade t-shirt that read simply, "Fuck Socialism." Very classy. There's nothing quite like comparing Obama to two guys that combined to kill approximately 50-60 million people. Good stuff.
It was also rewarding to see those who called out specifics of Obama's bill, spun with rhetoric learned from the big mouths of guys like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, get shot down with their diluted theories as Farr had a copy of the entire bill with him. He reminded all those that may not realize some congressman actually do read legislation put in front of them that he had read the 1,200-page document.
Approximately 47 million Americans are currently uninsured and you can count this blogger among them. It's a scary reality I've been living with for a few months now. I'm not asking anyone to pull out a violin and play a song for me because many have gone much longer without it. Last week at the gas pump, I got talking to a limousine driver in his mid-to-late 60's who doesn't have health insurance. He told me he's been lucky in the health department over the years, but he's frightened about what lies in his future.
At a previous job, a person I worked with didn't have health insurance despite the fact that she was a full-time worker that probably did more work than all of us combined. Add in the fact that she's a single mother with two children and you can't help but have some compassion. Have those opposed to health care reform lost this virtue?
While those supporting health care reform were clearly outnumbered at Monday night's event, their voices were loud and they were heard. One of my favorite moments came near the conclusion when a woman from Pacific Grove told the crowd about how proud she is to be an American living at this time with this President and this Congress/Senate. That's the way I feel every day out in the field knocking on doors or chatting with a friend about what Obama is up to. It's the spirit we had in November on Election Night and in Washington D.C. in January at his Inauguration. I remind all of you who supported the President and helped get him elected that the fight is far from over. The fight has just begun. Get involved. As Bono so eloquently puts in a a song from the newest U2 album, "Every generation gets a chance to change the world." This is our chance.
It was a short day in the field and I was able to register four new Democrats. Two of the women were a bit older and had recently become citizens. They were very excited to get signed up.
CURRENT HIT TALLY
TOTAL OF 50 NEW DEMOCRATS
7 REPUBLICAN KILLS
Please explain to me how taking from one person (taxes) and giving to another (healthcare, welfare, etc.) is not stealing. If we all paid the same dollar amount, and then received the same benefits (military and police protection, roads, heck - even health care) then the system wouldn't be hugely bad. But, when almost half of the public pays little to no taxes, yet that same portion of the population receives the greatest per-capita benefits, the system is hugely unfair. This extends to health care, and is one of the major reasons that it costs so much, should you actually pay for it. The debate has been scewed, there isn't anyone in the USA that doesn't have access to healthcare, no one is going to die in the streets because they won't be treated, they simply use medicaid or medicare, or go to an ER and get treated for free. Then, when I go in for a relatively minor injury or condition, I get billed two or three times the true cost of the service, because the hospital still needs to pay its costs, and they know that my insurance or I will pay, voila - high health care costs, expect for the waiting room full of people that will never pay one dime of their bill. Oh, I agree, the system is brokem, but not for the reasons that you think.
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