It's time to chill out for both sides. Really.
Do not fall into the trap and engage in a screaming match with the GOP shrills!
The latest developments (and comments I've seen) are very worrying.
My Norwegian parents gave birth to me in the USA, then moved back to Norway shortly after. So I apologize for my English since it is not my first language (although it almost is). This is also my first diary.
I have been watching the debate on health care with great interest since quite a few of my relatives are in the USA, and I hope that i will be able to move back at one time.
USA. The great humanitarian country. The big melting pot. The democratic stronghold of the world.
A lot of the republicans are screaming that they want 'Their America back'. I want my America back too. The one we used to look up to here in Europe.
This last week has been especially worrying. The screamers with their objective of destroying democratic debate on health care using methods we have not seen since the era around 1933 in Germany. The egging up to violence on both (yes both!) sides. I have seen more and more angry liberals calling for retaliation and retribution at the town halls. Do not let this become a screaming match. If you do, you will loose since they are not interested in debate at all, just to sabotage the town hall. And if you start too they have completed their goal and effectively won. Even if you get extremely mad and want to punch them in the face!
You desperately need health care reform. Most Europeans are very foreign to the concept of health insurance. I too have problems grasping that when you get sick in US, you don't necessarily get the help you need if you can not afford it. Single Payer would be best option, but anything is better than risking not getting treated at all. This can only be accomplished through dialog.
I have some suggestions as to how one can do this, but this is just from the top of my head and I don't know if this is practical etc.
- Make clear rules for each town hall. The main rule must be: if you raise your voice you will get thrown out.
- Hire guards / call the police to enforce the rules.
- Make everyone ID themselves at the entrance.
- I'm a bit unsure about this, but maybe separate the two sides so that you don't get in each others face.
- When everyone are calm and not screaming (or are screaming outside), you can start to debate facts and debunk all the myths that the "normal" GOP supports are worried about.
Please, the last thing you need to do is legitimizing the screamers by screaming back. It will also lead to a very dangerous path.