A Smattering of Applause

In a year in which the average American's attention was threatened to be distracted by events in other countries (natural disasters, coups, faux elections), we were once again saved by a supreme and divisive issue: health care.

Personally I've never seen this many people get in this heightened an uproar over an issue which a) they don't understand, b) doesn't involve terrorists, c) might actually help people, and d) doesn't directly affect everyone. Nevertheless, a legislative bill that draws support and opposition strictly across political lines (not a single house republican voted for the most recent incarnation) is sure to fire up somebody. So who's mad?

Poor people? Nope. Citizens striving for better health care? Na. The disenfranchised, disabled, or sick? Eh. Instead anger seems to stem mainly from one group, that of the historically marginalized, the great victims of American society: middle-aged white men. Ah, you guys have taken the brunt of our country's problems for too long, finally you stood up and declared as loudly as possible: "No more!"

Truly I thought most of the criticism of this bill would be that it took too long to become law, that this bill didn't go far enough in improving a problem long overlooked and ignored. Most of all, I thought the great fury would arise from the lack of a public option, originally thought to be at the core of this "solution". Public option health care is at the root of all the health plans implemented in other countries that we are so jealous. Even when I was a little kid, I knew Canada and Sweden had sweeter deals than us.

Aside: My favorite response to the idiotic claim from the last decade that 9/11 occurred because people in third world countries hate our "freedom" is, "Well, then why didn't they attack Denmark?"

In fact the uproar stems from those who ALREADY HAVE health care. Not from me, the guy who will be fined if I don't find some private plan to latch onto, or a great dearth of our society that's still going to be shut out or given a really nasty deal. I don't know if these "protesters" (it goes beyond teabaggers, unfortunately) actually believe their health care will be taken away, or if they are that upset that existing health care might actually start working for people. Perhaps they like sticking up for the little guy: big insurance companies who clearly had no voice in this debate...

Frankly, it's about them valuing something more knowing other people don't have it, and their subsequent anger at seeing the possible ease at which people can now get health care. It doesn't really matter if one worked hard to obtain their own health care, the point is they have it, so they can say they earned it through the grit and determination embodied by generations before.

Seriously, who actually understands this bill? I'd be surprised if more than 5 people in America actually read the whole thing. It's really sad that there's this much opposition to something that might not be that significant, but then again, it has given millions of uninformed white people the opportunity to blame all of society's ills on people who take welfare. God knows welfare encompasses 96% of our country's budget.

Also, what's up with people who scream "Don't take my medicare away, you big government liberals!" Fuck you, when have you said anything good about medicare or medicaid before? You realize this is a government subsidized industry right? Small government proponents usually end up sounding like asshole, mainly because the ones who get on TV actually do everything they can to expand government (bonuses to companies, banning abortion, sinking trillions (what's the next #, quadillion?) of dollars into "defense" (look out, Germany is bombing us).

I actually consider myself a proponent of small government ideals, which allows me to fit comfortably in with zero of the 2.14 American political parties. I'm pro-choice, pro-gambling, anti-war, don't like most cops, pro-agriculture, hate people who cry about taxes, pro-gay marriage (not that I actually try and force two gay people to wed, but evidently not really caring and getting all worked up about people I don't know dumps me in this category, i.e. fuck you for thinking you can control people's lives). Couple this with actually having some ideas of how this country could be less in debt, means I could be libertarian, except they're so very, very confused, and my general level of resentment isn't polished enough.

Despite the lack of any effort on my part, politicians don't seem to be listening to me. We are heading down a road of having school vouchers, religion increasing (regaining, extending, swallowing?) its influence on everything decision based, crappy jobs, no small businesses, no farms, no quality or affordable food, shitty infrastructure, and a total and inspiring effort to denounce anything that comes close to having the term "science" in it.

The silver lining of course, is that I was born during Reagan's 2nd term, and came of age with Presidents dipshits Bush, Clinton, and Bush. Basically I feel like we've spent 40 years trying to undo the New Deal, and now maybe we have the chance to move on. Then they brought out the fucking Prius, and uptight white people have another reason to get mad about stuff.