I have been so discouraged by the quality of the discussion of health care reform. Tonight's outstanding speech by President Obama buoyed my spirits and made me write again about the desperate need for people to develop critical thinking, as my neighbor said recently, to be able to analyze the arguments and determine the course of action that best meets their interests.
My husband and I were in a Friendly's restaurant recently (yes,when things get tough the tough eat ice cream). We engaged the waitress in a brief discussion and found out that she had no health care on the job and earned LESS than the minimum wage. We suggested that health care reform could help her. She told us she was very leery, didn't trust Obama. "Did you see the paper," she said, "now he's going to give a talk to kids and I just don't trust him." What does one say at that point to an otherwise nice person who is unable to advocate on behalf of her own best interests. Why was she so easily swayed by talk shows, TV news, etc.? Surely she knows that she needs health care coverage. Why doesn't she trust our president? I haven't figured it out yet. I know when I worked as a union organizer I was always astounded at the number of people who voted against the union. At least then I knew that the employer was threatening to close the shop, or move the job. Fear is a powerful force and that is what the interests have been using to scare ordinary people.
It's up to all of us to talk to people find the right responses and carry the day for health care reform. It will be a better country for it.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
It upsets me too. The unfortunate thing is that most of our beloved country gets their news checking out online at the grocery store or from less than reliable talk shows. Part of the reason I can't come home right now is because we don't have universal health care!
Post a Comment