OT: What Are The Rules?

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy:

 

I would like to point something out about this type of email, because I think

it's important to the discussion, not just here but everywhere that it's

happening. These emails are plentiful these days.

 

Respectfully I think it does not represent the thinking on both sides. That

story sounds exactly like one of viral emails circulating to persuade people.

It is slanted to make one opinion sound more sensible and misrepresents the

thinking on the other side. One can never count on a viral email to be fair,

unbiased, and accurate. It's a form of propaganda, made more insidious because

no one really knows what entity is behind it. One might take a guess, though.

 

I am acquainted with many folks who are in favor of reform. Many who call

themselves progressives and liberals. We have many discussions, and I think I

have a pretty good idea where most of them are coming from.

 

None of these people believe that health care reform can be free. They tend to

agree that as a nation we are already spending too much on health insurance and

health care, and getting far too little for our money. People are dying when

they might live if they received the proper care. They aren't thinking of

prolonging life when it doesn't make sense. They are thinking about all of the

unnecessary death.

 

Some of these pro-reform thinkers are health care providers, by the way.

 

Also, I have never met a liberal or a progressive who wants a true socialist

government. Here is a definition of socialism from Websters:

 

**********************************************

 

Main Entry: so·cial·ism

Pronunciation: \ & #712;s & #333;-sh & #601;- & #716;li-z & #601;m\

Function: noun

1837

 

1 : any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or

governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and

distribution of goods

2 a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property

b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned

and controlled by the state

3 : a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and

communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according

to work done

 

****************************************

 

I haven't met a single American liberal or progressive who would stand for

socialism. They like free enterprise in the private sector.

 

The liberals and progressives I know would not tolerate a totalitarian

government. I can't emphasize this enough. We are all Americans regardless of

political party. We have all been taught since kindergarten that this a

government for the people, by the people, and of the people. We all studied

government and read " Brave New World " and " 1984 " in high school.

 

I haven't met one progressive or liberal who needs to be schooled on how the

American government works, about the freedoms written into our Constitution, or

about the evils of totalitarianism and propaganda. We are all products of

American culture.

 

For the reasons given above, the folks I know would be incredulous if someone

walked up to their table in a restaurant and made a speech like that.

 

I do believe that most Americans across the political spectrum share many deeply

held beliefs in common about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our

commonalities outweigh our differences. I believe that in the grand scheme of

things, the differences in opinion on the role of government are relatively

minor but being overblown by entities interested in wealth and power.

 

If we all really understood where the other side is coming from by getting it

straight from the horse's mouth rather than allowing misrepresentation by

special interest groups, I think the discussion could be much more productive,

and there would be far less divisiveness.

 

Respectfully,

 

Susan

 

, " Kathy " <vanokat wrote:

>

> I apologize if this was offensive to anyone. I thought it showed the

> thinking on both sides. That was the only reason I posted.

>