Healthcare - yeah - that.

Eventually, everyone will have to talk about healthcare. As much as I'd like to think it will be shot down and go away, it is becoming more and more clear that Obama will continue to push this issue right until the very bitter end. So I guess I'll talk about it too.

I've been reading recently about the many 'disruptive' town hall meetings with our elected officials. It seems every day their is a new article online about people who dislike the idea of Obamas Universal Healthcare (UH) and the terrible things they are doing in order to express their opinions.

On MSN today: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32385814/ns/politics-capitol_hill/?GT1=43001 "From Ps. to Ga., health protests intensify"
From the New York Times: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32381149/ns/politics-the_new_york_times/ "The roots of rage at a town hall meeting"

They go on and on - everyday we see more. So shouldn't this be a sign? Isn't this the right of every American to speak their mind? We all have the freedom to be heard, in an organized and logical way. So why does one who disagrees with this UH plan get labeled as 'rowdy' and 'protester', when those who are fighting FOR it are getting listed as 'proponants', and 'advocate' or 'defender'? Is this because if it's the Presidents idea, then it's the 'right' idea and everyone else is against it?

Everything I am reading is screaming at me: LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE! LISTEN! Democract Representative (term used very loosely) John Dingell was approached by a citizen he is supposed to represent about his support for Obamas UH plan. What did the citizen get? Police escort from the building with only stays, stops, and the run-around from his 'representative'. Then Mr. Dingell goes on TV and tells us all that these disruptive people are wreaking havoc in the meetings! What???

Let me tell you what is happening - well, has happened - probably a long, long time ago. The citizens elect officials who are supposed to represent the people. Those representatives go to Washington, sit in their cushy offices, meet in nice boardrooms and listen to the president tell them what they need to go tell their constituents. The president says 'This is a good idea' and the 'representatives' (yeah, pretty loose) come back to us and tell us that we should like this idea!

Well - no. No, How about, I tell my representative what I want, and he/she goes and tells the president what WE want! Isn't that the way it is supposed to work? Isn't that the way it was designed? Yes. But now it's become just the opposite and what are we supposed to do? The nation cried foul on the bank bailout. The nation said no to the auto industry bailout. And yet they (and many others) continue to go through! Why? Because WE are not being represented, we are being preached to about all the 'wonderful' things government has planned.