CONSERVATIVES NEED HEALTH CARE REALITY CHECK

August 10, 2009

Conservative advocates of defeating the proposed health care reform need to get their message out without hyperbole or fear tactics. There are enough verifiable issues in the proposed legislation to argue over, without introducing potential radical approaches to reform such as "death panels" referenced by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin last weekend.

Both sides would be well served if they would focus on discussing actual changes being proposed. The trouble is, we don't really know what changes are actually being considered and what those alterations would ultimately mean to the "average" American.

Proponents of the health care reform, like Speaker Pelosi, should also refrain from characterizing those opposing the changes as "Nazis" and "un-American". The vast majority are simply concerned and they are fed-up with efforts to push legislation through without adequate review and debate. The "transparency" that was promised is sorely lacking and it hasn't gone unnoticed by supporters and opponents alike. Tactics like "ratting out" people who provide "fishy" information; SEIU's organized efforts, with input from HHS Secretary Sebelius to derail protesters from attending Town Hall meetings; using comments like "We prefer to use the power of persuasion, but aren't opposed to using the persuasion of power" only give opponents a very real reason to question the Administration's intentions.

Democrats must stop critizing conservatives for "organizing" and "vocal outbursts". These tactics are well known by left-wing liberals and have been used for decades against targets of their efforts for social reform.

Both sides of this issue should focus on civil debate and doing what is right for their constituents, not what gets them the most political capital. Politicians had better start realizing that the old days of staying off the radar, while taking huge "contributions" from special interest groups for supporting their pet projects, is over. They will be held responsible for what they've done for/to their citizens and will pay the price at the polls if they do not deliver.