Sitting at the coffee shop working and eavesdropping on four young students working on professional degrees and health care and found their discussion very interesting and probably typical. The key points and my findings on the flip.
First, it's so tight in here that they were less than two feet away, so it was difficult not to hear. All appeared to be VERY middle of the road and not very politically involved.
One fellow started the conversation:
"Did you hear that the health care bill passed?"
The others:
"Oh, I think I did hear that."
"Yes."
"Oh, it did?"
He continues:
"I'm not sure I agree with it."
And, that starts the 10 minute conversation ...
Here are the other reactions of the group:
-Feel like Democrats rammed it through in the very end, though one pointed out that health care reform has been a discussion for years.
-Knew there was something about the Democrats doing something to circumvent normal protocol
-Feel like Republicans didn't have their own solutions
-Believe, because they are entering health care professions, this will matter to them
-One of their fathers who is "very right wing" told the daughter she should be very scared ... and she seemed to see that as reason to be concerned about what Republicans were telling her
-Weren't AT ALL sure what they shouldn't like about it ... didn't really know what it means
-One was worried that this would hold back the economic recovery ... just make things worse
-Worried about the country's ability to pay for it
-Didn't like the fear mongering of the Republicans
In the end, I think this is all very good news. In fact, in six months, they will discover that their daily lives haven't changed, that the economy continues to improve, that their new jobs (they were discussing) are still in tacked, and all the nightmares predicted by the Republicans haven't happened. And, if they are in tune with media stories and with their patients, they will start to hear how the changes are benefiting so many in the country.
The fact is that the vast majority of the country is NOT you. Nor are they tea-baggers or listeners of Rush, Beck, Hannity and O'Lielly. They are these kids. Not very connected to the details and facts ... fairly easily swayed ... sort of politically mush. Six months from now, they are going to be feeling better, hearing good economic stories, and ready to do their duty by voting in mid-term elections.
That's it. Back to coffee and work. The group of students left and are now replaced with a couple middle aged women sipping Lattes. I'll report again if I hear anything.
UPDATE The middle-aged women just left. Near the end, they got onto politics and the one woman wasn't really pleased with Billy Boy's naughty behavior, but clearly disliked GW. At the end she says, "Then we elected Barack! I can finally hold my head high in the international community!"