The President is speaking on tv tonight, once again trying to convince us that his health-care bill is what we want. I have a suggestion...why can't we focus on the areas of agreement? Why can't we start with coverage for pre-existing conditions...for those who have lost their jobs? There are several areas where everyone seems to agree...so why not start there? This so-called "public option", whether real or imagined, has scared everyone off. Can our Great-Communicator not see this? At best, the public option will give more people coverage, but the cost will be exorbitant. At it's worst, it's going to force some private health-care out, or the costs to sky-rocket.
The President needs to face the fact that he has not sold this program well. Leaving it the hands of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid has turned it into an ugly "them vs us" thing. Americans are compassionate people. If you got to them honestly and explain why there is a need, it will usually be met. But we are not a people who like having anything shoved down our throats. And after months of stimulus packages that are costing a fortune without showing much result (thus far), I think people are saying "What 's the rush? Slow down and do it right."
I think our President was caught off-guard by his falling approval ratings. He has a bit of arrogance that made him think that he could convince anyone of anything. But he needs to take a long, hard look at what he is doing. With only 39% of people supporting this bill...he hasn't gotten it done. And when, as President, you start believing that You know what is best for the American people...even when they have told you differently....When members of your own party are hesitating and hiding....When you have caused the "crazies" on the opposing side to come out...this is when you need to take a step back and remember that you were elected to carry out what the American people want...not to fulfill your own agenda, whatever that may be.
This whole issue has leaked everywhere...and now The President is going to have to tread carefully. Imagine the uproar that he caused yesterday by speaking to our elementary school children. This should have been a non-issue. The fact that the President would take the time to address the kids should have been a great thing. I read the transcripts...there was nothing "inflammatory" in his talk. How can encouraging kids to work hard to succeed be a bad thing? How can pointing out that he wishes he would have worked harder as a student be considered leftist or conservative? But here's the deal....the moderates and conservatives have become suspicious of him...and his motives. Anything he does from here on out is going to be debated because he mis-calculated how far his persona would carry him.
In my opinion, he needs to take a step back. What he owes the American people is more explanation and less chastising. Stop making fun or putting down people who don't agree with you...it doesn't mean they are stupid...it doesn't indicate a decaying of public discourse...it just means they don't agree with you! Take the time and effort to spell out your plans...and then accept that you cannot shove an agenda down people's throats without consequences...
So that is it for today's political lecture...I realize I lost a chunk of readership with the words "our President'...but it can't all be fashion and cell phones, can it?
Until tomorrow, when we will return to more pressing matters....
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