Politics and religion.

[lizbud]

So you really should tune in Rachel Maddow one evening. She does not cut guests off, nor does she talk over them. She interviews all sorts - last night there was some far right person. You could sort of tell from her expressions how she felt about him. But she was consistently polite, and thanked him for coming on.

Last nights show was especially interesting. She doesn't ask the "usual"
questions which makes for a good conversation.

[RICHARD]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...,4079175.story

Reporting from Washington — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, insisting at the start of a long and politically heated summer congressional recess that healthcare reform can be achieved this fall, today are calling the disruption of "town-hall'' meetings by vocal protesters "simply un-American.''

"We believe it is healthy for such a historic effort to be subject to so much scrutiny and debate,'' Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Hoyer (D-Md.) write in an Op-ed essay published by USA Today.

Since I stupidly obsess about my reps, I am going to call Steny Hoyer a moron, just to balance things out. And I am going to make fun of his name, too! Steny?

Dissent is good?

Yeah, when she is not the subject of the public's ire..
I love it.

When our reps start asking that the attendees show courtesy at these THMs they should be reminded that they show us no courtesy when they go to Washington and make us believe they are there in our best interest.

The new, young, hip regime in power is going to have to deal with the old, cunning and way smarter voting blocs. BO didn't count on people, who have worked most of their lives to get what they have, getting mad.

In Health Care, the rule is 'We cannot give you the care you grew up with, so suck it up."

-------------------------------


Now, I don't think that anything good comes out of people yelling at each other, but these two dimbulbs should keep their opinions to themselves. It's really UnAmerican to call Americans UnAmerican.

I am going to move to Russia next year. Their president doesn't play basketball.

He rides horses, sans T-shirt and is way more manly than OUR president.



I have seen my leader bowl.

[Medusa]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...,4079175.story

Reporting from Washington — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, insisting at the start of a long and politically heated summer congressional recess that healthcare reform can be achieved this fall, today are calling the disruption of "town-hall'' meetings by vocal protesters "simply un-American.''

"We believe it is healthy for such a historic effort to be subject to so much scrutiny and debate,'' Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Hoyer (D-Md.) write in an Op-ed essay published by USA Today.

Since I stupidly obsess about my reps, I am going to call Steny Hoyer a moron, just to balance things out. And I am going to make fun of his name, too! Steny?

Dissent is good?

Yeah, when she is not the subject of the public's ire..
I love it.

When our reps start asking that the attendees show courtesy at these THMs they should be reminded that they show us no courtesy when they go to Washington and make us believe they are there in our best interest.

The new, young, hip regime in power is going to have to deal with the old, cunning and way smarter voting blocs. BO didn't count on people, who have worked most of their lives to get what they have, getting mad.

In Health Care, the rule is 'We cannot give you the care you grew up with, so suck it up."

-------------------------------


Now, I don't think that anything good comes out of people yelling at each other, but these two dimbulbs should keep their opinions to themselves. It's really UnAmerican to call Americans UnAmerican.

I am going to move to Russia next year. Their president doesn't play basketball.

He rides horses, sans T-shirt and is way more manly than OUR president.



I have seen my leader bowl.

So, if it's healthy for HCR to be the subject of scrutiny and debate, then how are the protesters un-American. That makes no sense.

[Grace]

So, if it's healthy for HCR to be the subject of scrutiny and debate, then how are the protesters un-American. That makes no sense.

It makes more sense if the entire article is read.

(Nancy Pelosi/USA TODAY)

We believe it is healthy for such a historic effort to be subject to so much scrutiny and debate. The failure of past attempts is a reminder that health insurance reform is a defining moment in our nation's history — it is well worth the time it takes to get it right. We are confident that we will get this right.

Already, three House committees have passed this critical legislation and over August, the two of us will work closely with those three committees to produce one strong piece of legislation that the House will approve in September.

In the meantime, as members of Congress spend time at home during August, they are talking with their constituents about reform. The dialogue between elected representatives and constituents is at the heart of our democracy and plays an integral role in assuring that the legislation we write reflects the genuine needs and concerns of the people we represent.

However, it is now evident that an ugly campaign is underway not merely to misrepresent the health insurance reform legislation, but to disrupt public meetings and prevent members of Congress and constituents from conducting a civil dialogue. These tactics have included hanging in effigy one Democratic member of Congress in Maryland and protesters holding a sign displaying a tombstone with the name of another congressman in Texas, where protesters also shouted "Just say no!" drowning out those who wanted to hold a substantive discussion.

Let the facts be heard

These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades.

Health care is complex. It touches every American life. It drives our economy. People must be allowed to learn the facts.

Entire article here.


I'm not gung-ho on the health care thing right now, but I do think constant disruptions of these meetings will certainly not educate anyone.

[Medusa]

It makes more sense if the entire article is read.


Entire article here.


I'm not gung-ho on the health care thing right now, but I do think constant disruptions of these meetings will certainly not educate anyone.

I have read the article and it still makes no sense to call people un-American for protesting. They call it "drowning out the facts"; that in itself is insulting because it implies that only their side have the facts, i.e, the truth. Shout downs don't solve anything but I can certainly understand frustration at the feeling of not being heard.

[Grace]

it still makes no sense to call people un-American for protesting.

I've been thinking about this, and, of course, you are correct. Protesting is part and parcel of the history of this great country.

It's the yelling and screaming that bother me the most. And I know there was plenty of that in the 18th century. But when folks yell and scream at each other, no one gets the message - so how are we to make sense of it all?

[lizbud]

Talking & asking questions are fine, but coming to meetings with a
protest rant, is not helpful at all. Not letting all voices be heard is not
democracy. Shutting off the normal give & take of a discussion, just
builds frustration & halts progress.