From Fear to Faith

When people allow themselves to be overwhelmed by fear things usually get crazy.

Sadly, such is the case concerning Health Care reform.

During a series of town hall meetings around the country last week, members of Congress have been jeered, shouted-down, and threatened with death. Many of the protesters have been ginned up by pundits and political organizations:

Sean Hannity: "Become part of the mob!" read a banner on his Web site.

Rush Limbaugh: "Adolph Hitler, like Barack Obama, also ruled by dictate."

A Web site called Tea Party Patriots instructed their followers to "Yell out and challenge the Rep's statements early... Stand up and shout and sit right back down."

And former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin wrote in a statement on Facebook:

"The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide... Such a system is downright evil."

In looking at the results to the Walter H. Capps Center's Post-Election poll that I took part in last November when asked, what the most important, actionable issues were for the next president and congress, the third highest write-in response, behind "Fixing the economy," and "Ending the war in Iraq" was "Fix healthcare... availability for all."

Despite differences in how to go about this, one fact that is not in dispute is that health care costs will rise to unsustainable levels unless something is done.

But this commentary is not about the pros and cons of the health care debate. That's politics. This is about the ethics of a "debate" which has deteriorated into an Us vs. Them shouting match.

What's particularly troubling is how easily people can get stirred up by fear, show up at a meeting designed to have an honest dialog and then proceed to disrupt and proclaim "their rights." Most of those that I witnessed in news clips seemed to have forgotten the corresponding responsibilities that go with those rights. Many demonstrated something akin to shouting fire in a crowded theater.

How can you hear the answers to questions if everyone is shouting? And what kind of message does this send to our kids: that if you don't like what someone says, it's okay to bully, badger or shout them down?

We're better than that.

I don't know how the health care debate will end. There's no doubt that there is genuine public concern. This is a complex issue and there are no easy answers. What I do know is that we won't be able to succeed in fixing anything through misinformation, shout-downs and hate speech.

More communication is needed. Greater clarity needs to be brought forth by the president. He and Congress both need to listen and learn the genuine concerns by Americans. Americans, in turn, need to communicate those concerns in a reasonable, rational manner. Shouting is neither reasonable nor rational.

After a reasoned debate and thoughtful working from both parties, I would like to see the president and a small bi-partisan group of Senators hold a town hall meeting to clearly lay out their plans for reform.

In last November's poll, one of the top qualities likely voters said was important for the next president was a "clear vision to unify the country." In the final analysis, this might be Mr. Obama's greatest challenge. But we bear some of the responsibility for this too.

We need rational rhetoric not irrational fear-mongering. Many of us need to stop allowing ourselves to be stirred up by hate-filled, demagogic rhetoric and start examining the pros and cons by reading and discussing the specifics of any bill with friends, neighbors and colleagues.

"Asked by PBS news anchor Jim Lehrer in February," wrote Time magazine (July 6, 2009) "if he did not feel burdened by the several crises now besetting the country, Obama noted that the moment 'is full of peril but full of possibility' and that such times are 'when the political system starts to move effectively.'"

Last week has shown us the peril. Mr. Obama needs to show us the possibility; a possibility that will move us from fear to faith.

Jim Lichtman has been writing and speaking on ethics since 1995. You can read more commentaries on his Web site, www.ethicsStupid.com.

Comments

[mychagal]

It is truly amazing to me that there are so many ignorant people in this country. To see this day -after -day is perplexing to say the least. How so many people can be manifpulated and lead by the fringe is truly stunning.

[kps888]

Until the Democrats wake up and realize that this is what the opposition is like, they will always lose. It makes me sick to see this bullying crap go on.

My business is in advertising and pr, so I know a lot about message control. The Dems need to strike back ruthlessly. Remember Sean Connery in The Untouchables? What he said to Ness? When I see this nonsense go on, it kills me. I could put together the meanest, nastiest, most ruthless blowback campaign seen in the last 100 years of the GOP, and all of it factual and true.

The dems can't shirk from these tactics. Metaphorically speaking, when a bully punches you, punching back is a good start, but just to be sure, punch back with a two by four.

[humanbeing-rick]

Good points Mr. Lichtman. As a civilized society, we should be engaged in an intelligent debate, not shouting fearful slogans. I would like to think that mankind can evolve past the highly charged and violent emotional confronations.
Most compassionate human beings do want a society where we care for one another, and can all peacefully coexist together, it is the basic reason people want to pursue lofty goals such as this. It is a worthwhile endeavor, not only for oneself but for all of us in our society. We do not live alone apart from each other, we are all brothers and sisters. We care for each other. Is that so hard to understand? Furthermore, we all collaborate together to form this government of ours, which we set up to administer things for the public good, such as health care. Government is not the enemy, it is our friend, it is us. Use it for good things, and that is what health care reform is all about. Pretty tough concept to grasp, but you can study it hard and it might sink in.

[Chernynkaya]

What a load. You sound like Rodney King- "Can't we all just get along? after being bludgeoned by the cops. There has been too much bad blood between us and them at this point to sit down together for some milk and cookies. The Right has repeatedly drawn their lines in the sand and I for one am ready to cross them.

The Town Hallers and their corporate puppet masters have successfully pitted the little guys against each other, and the fact that the screamers can't see that is no reason for Progressives to give in. We are fighting for our vision of America too, and it has nothing to do with what a large group of resentful, bitter, government­-is-the-en­emy throw backs from the mythical golden days want.

I will fight them, and the oligarchs in Congress, and the President who betrays his base daily. I will do what puny things I can for real change now, but I pray for a real leader who will lead us into transformative governing.

[mamalisa38]

There is an easy answer to our health care crisis, single payer. They have done it in England since 1944 and everyone is happy with it. Charges from the hospital? None. No cash registers in the pharmacies. Charges at the doctor's office? None. We don't need the insurance companies, all they do is take our money.

[ScreenName05]

Okay I give up, lets take away medicare from right wing teaparty patriots - they are convinced it is going to happen so why not give them what they want? These people are obviously not Americans and as such they do not deserve to be supported by our tax dollars. Lets rescind their right to Social Security and Medicare - let them go get a real job and buy their own medical insurance, maybe that will convince them they want to be Americans again someday.

[CTtransplant]

We can no longer afford to let the obstructionists prevent the health care/health insurance reform this country so desperately needs!

Please sign this petition to have paid health care removed from our representatives in Congress until such time as they reform health care - to include a strong public option - for 'we the people' who they are supposed to represent. Then spread the word to anyone and everyone you know!

http://www.petitiononline.com/PubOp676/petition.html

[DIdaho]

This "debate" could be over whether to have jelly or jam on a peanut butter sandwich, and these people would still be screaming that the "jelly option" was socialist and Nazi. Okay, that's a bit of an overstatement, but just a bit. These are people who can't believe they lost, don't accept that their black President is a citizen, and "want their country back." Their country. Not mine, not yours, not ours, theirs. They have no interest in unity, because they don't think there are any "Real Americans" who disagree with them on anything.

[trisha08]

Well said. They keep screaming they want their country back. What "country" is that exactly? One where black people are still slaves? Seriously, this is not even about healthcare. I think you are correct...­it could be about peanut butter and jelly (which was very funny, BTW).

After watching some videos of town hall protesters, I realized that they don't even know what they are protesting. They are just screaming.

I heard too many say things like, "I'm scared of Obama", ya-da, ya-da, ya-da----to convince me that they are protesting healthcare reform. It sounded too much like McPalin rallies before the election (who can forget this gem, "We are afraid of Obama.....­He is an A-Rab!"). How interesting that Palin chimed in with the same fear tactics----Be afraid of the black man....he wants to kill your baby.

We are looking in the face of something bigger and uglier. These people cannot deal with a black man in the White House. I'm a middle aged white woman and it's crystal clear to me what all this "fear" is about. I am just sickened by this. I really thought that we had progressed as a Nation, but have we?

[mychagal]

All the children of "Birthers", "Tea Baggers" "Town Hall Crazies", "Nazi Accusers" "Death in Efegy" sign makers, and other reprehensible behaviors should talk to their children. Ask them what they think about their parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles being bullies. If the children tell them, "I agree with you", well then they have messed up in a huge way. If any other children say, "I don't agree with what you're doing." , they should take it to heart and stop all this hate and fear -mongering at once.

[mychagal]

It's Sarah who's evil. Calling Obama evil is a joke coming from her.

[JohnFromCensornati]

"After a reasoned debate and thoughtful working from both parties, I would like to see the president and a small bi-partisan group of Senators hold a town hall meeting to clearly lay out their plans for reform."

You apparently don't get it.
The only reform the GOP is interested in is none at all. There is no plan that can include them.