What is happening here? When did our elected officials stop even trying to pretend that they are representing us ordinary citizens? I try to chalk up differences of opinion regarding the health care reform debate to just that, differences of opinion. But you know, I just can’t anymore. I don’t think, no, I know, that these elected officials of ours, the ones attending the health care reform summit, the ones who went in knowing that they have no interest in ensuring that all Americans have access to affordable health care, also and consequently have no interest in resolution, compromise, consensus, or even a real debate. I am also more and more convinced that they are lacking in even one iota of true concern about their constituents; or at least the constituents, who, like me, aren’t CEOs of an insurance company. It’s not that difficult to read them, they’re pretty obvious in their agenda which consists of 1) keeping their corporate buddies happy, and 2) being self-righteous and condescending and smug because it appears that they are getting their way. Their agenda all along was simple – whatever comprehensive reform package was presented for a vote, they’d vote against; making sure, of course to cover their tracks by placing red herrings along the way. In other words – lying. They don’t even have the decency of admitting that our current system is broken and perhaps in coming up with <gasp!> ideas of their own on how to fix it.
I am fairly certain that a good number of these folks were hall monitors in school. They remind me of the little bullies from elementary school. Know which kids I’m talking about? Not the big bullies, the big bullies could rely on brute force rather than brains to get their way. These little bullies weren’t big, stature-wise, so they had to come up with other strategies for enforcing their tiny fascist agendas. They were snide, sarcastic, and mean. I can’t imagine what their home lives were like. For those of you who are Harry Potter fans, picture Draco Malfoy (I’m rereading the books – sorry). I know in my heart of hearts, while the folks, like our President, who are attempting to work toward some kind of consensus, something to pull out of this mess that actually benefits those 98% of us who aren’t earning CEO salaries, the bullies are leaning back in their chairs and thinking “neener, neener, neener.”
Meanwhile, real people are suffering. This is a tough video to watch, but I encourage you to watch it anyway: Keith Olbermann, MSNBC, http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/02/25/olbermann_healthcare, talks about his dad and his feelings about health care reform. Scratch “encourage” and insert “implore.” Everyone needs to see this. Please.
One last thing, I am sick to death of these same politicians claiming they are speaking for me. “The American People are against this bill.” Well, kinda, because you’ve decimated it, “Polls show that the American People are against health care insurance reform.” Well, um, have you actually looked at the polls yourselves, actually read what the “American People” are saying, because I have, and it looks to me like most of us want it, but not the mess that you all up there in DC have made of it. But setting that aside, the percentage point differences in all of these polls aren’t statistically significant (who would have thunk that I actually did take statistics, hated it but passed the class).
But even setting aside the statistics, who are these American People that you “just-say-no-to-anything-that-smacks-of-anything-even-vaguely-charitable-sounding” naysayers keep claiming that you represent? Because, I’ll tell you what – you do not speak for me.
Can I sue them for this? Can we sue them? Libel? Slander? Class action suit anyone? Because, let me repeat, you do not speak for me, and let me make this even more clear, I do not believe for one minute that you give a damn about me.
Any attorneys out there who want to weigh in on the law suit idea?
