The loss of rational debate in America.

Editors Note:

I sent this to Max at the Arkansas Times and held off putting it online to give them a chance to use it, if they felt so inclined. Deadlines being what they are, it was not in time to be included. So I've decided to put it up for the few of you who may be following me here. Please enjoy...



The loss of rational debate in America.


I attended Wednesday's (Aug. 5th) health care forum with Representatives Ross and Snyder. The room was packed, with attendees standing in the aisles, and cameras lining the rear wall of the auditorium. Normally, in a civilized society, the focus of this story would be on the substance of the debate; should the US health care system be changed? Should we have a single-payer system, or strictly private-sector care, or some sort of hybrid? How can we increase the efficiency of our health-care dollars?

Unfortunately, we don't live in a civilized society. At least, that is the impression left by the shouting, name-calling and general tomfoolery of many in the crowd Wednesday.

I am concerned that our country, one that was founded by men who thought that common problems could be solved by reasoned and informed discourse, has been lost to crowd-sourced "angry citizens" parroting the latest press-release and shouting down all opposition. I am concerned that many think following Newt Gingrich on Twitter or reading the latest blog post from Michelle Malkin is a substitute for learning the facts involved in what, for many Americans, is a life or death issue. Most of all, I am concerned that those in power in Washington will fall for it.

Rep. Ross said that he was proud to be the one who held up action on a health care reform bill in Congress. He then rattled off a list of talking points that he and his Blue Dog brethren have crafted; no Federal funds for abortion, no mandate for coverage, no care for illegal immigrants. Then he let slip that he thought a public option may not even be in the final bill.

Let's look at the facts. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov/prod/2008pubs/p60-235.pdf), approximately 15.3 percent of U.S. citizens had NO insurance in 2007. That's about 45.7 million people, and this is the most conservative estimate. Other estimates place the number of uninsured closer to 80 million. Without addressing the problem of the uninsured and underinsured, any plan is doomed to failure.

It is also worthwhile to note that many of those uninsured raise the cost of health care for everyone; often, they will let health problems go until they require emergency treatment, clogging emergency rooms and costing much more than earlier care would require. A recent study by Families USA (http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/hidden-health-tax.pdf) shows that uncompensated care costs totaled approximately $42.7 billion in 2008. Hospitals cover those costs by charging insured patients more. And insurers are happy to pass those costs on in the form of higher premiums.

Rather than dealing with these facts, the debate in the forum centered around rumors and innuendo. Some charged, for example, that Obama's health plan would mandate euthanasia for the elderly, or that it wouldn't cover those with dementia. With the exception of the most paranoid of conspiracy theorists, no one truly believes that Obama wants to kill your grandmother; but their happy to spread the rumor, if it will advance their agenda.

In the end, my greatest fear is not that a health care reform bill will not be passed. I am afraid that our country has forgotten it's roots in informed debate. I'm afraid that reactionary language, off-the-cuff soundbites and name-calling have replaced thought, research and compromise in our public sphere. Wednesday's meeting did nothing to allay my fears.