I have purposefully avoided discussions about healthcare reform in recent weeks: sidestepped media coverage, passed up the chance to think about the various options, steered clear of debates around the water cooler at work. I am not proud of my eagerness to stick my head in the sand. I just can’t bear the cacophony of noise dialogue around death panels, public options, and socialized medicine.
Part of my resistance is that every conversation about healthcare reform seems so heated and slanted. How can I analyze the pros and cons of what’s being considered when most analysis is loaded up with rhetoric? Another hurdle is that I have difficulty wrapping my brain around these concepts. As I said to a friend, “It’s all so overwhelming.” To which he replied, “That’s why I don’t think about it.” I, too, am guilty of not thinking about it.
Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Well, I am a good Wise Woman who is doing nothing. And while I want to end the inertia, I’m not sure with the right something to do is.
Anyone else feel similarly? Have you found good, non-partisan resources to track the debate? Reactions/suggestions are welcome …
(BTW, have you, like me, ever wondered why and how often an ostrich buries its head in the sand? Lo and behold, a quick Internet search reveals that the ostrich does NOT, in fact, bury its head. It may lie down to hide from danger or bend its head down to feed off the land, but the bird doesn’t seek the nearest hole to hide its head during times of stress. Who knew…)
8-20-2009 08:28:55
I have been waiting and waiting and waiting…for you to bring up this topic! I think about it all of the time especially since my 75 year old Father is freaking out. He has an arsenal of newspaper articles, YouTube videos, email forwards…that he sends me everyday. He says I’m turning a blind eye to the facts and I keep asking WHERE ARE THE FACTS? I read the NY Times and the Washington Post and NPR posts. Where is President Barack Obama’s health care reform proposal?
8-20-2009 13:53:33
The health care reform legislation is still undergoing revision. It is not too late to let your senators and representative know your concerns. It takes just a few minutes to send an email.
I think reading publications that attempt to give balanced information is the best bet. I follow the Post and the Wall Street Journal, which I think gives me a balance of viewpoints. It would be wonderful if there were a non-partisan web site following the iterations of the bill as it goes through the various committees. This is a complex issue and Congress needs to slow down and take the necessary time to draft a bill that will make a difference and extend coverage in the most prudent, compassionate way.
I work with senior adults and just this week I had first hand experience with the health care rationing that is already occurring. One resident was discharged from the hospital far too soon. One was not even admitted.
We do have problems with our current system. Kudos to the wise women who care about this issue and are taking the time to educate themselves.
8-31-2009 08:36:54
This will take 40 minutes of your time to watch but it’s well worth it:
http://www.pbs.org:80/moyers/journal/07312009/watch.html