Deliverance

Has it ever occurred to the millions of emotionally charged opponents to the health care initiative that this entire kerfuffle might actually be a deceptive delivery device for something other than fearing a socialist government takeover of the health care system?

That it might be like the same deception which discombobulated the millions of blissfully ignorant yet slowly dying smokers who enabled decades of tobacco company profits, that cigarettes, far from being cool and benign as advertised, were actually delivery systems for lethal and addictive nicotine?

So, it occurs to me that the aforementioned kerfuffle (only one among several other kerfufflae) is a hollow fabrication of freedom of thought, something akin to Orwell's Two Minutes Hate, a mere echo of the long gone, genuine item. And a deceptive delivery system.

Because while, say, the media purports to be a bastion of entertainment and information, it's really just a delivery system for advertising. That there seems to be less and less dramatic content and more and more commercial content, the two concepts merging into a commercial-tainment hybrid, where commerce is inextricably woven into quasi-dramatic content, the sole intent of which is to implant the impulse to consume in the malleable and massaged viewer.

So when millions of scared, marginalized Americans are exhorted by media arms for the Republican party to attend tea bag rallies or question the birth of our duly elected president or spread misinformation about death panels and government intrusion and generally react like suddenly sentient turkeys on Thanksgiving, it's apparent that something other than what's on the surface is being delivered.

More and more, the successfully herded population of the United States is engaging in conduct which has nothing to do whatsoever with reality. "Anger" is something everyone feels towards authority. But when the fired-up mob is also--coincidentally!-- obeisant to said authority, there develops an utterly misplaced and self-defeating rage.

Behold, as millions of "energized" people stand up and argue--against their own interests!

Because would a sane person argue on behalf of unscrupulous oligarchs while decrying conspiratorial fears about governmental control and intrusiveness?

Would a truly patriotic American defend the practice of insanely profitable drug companies to charge exorbitant fees for medicines that the elderly and infirm cannot afford?

Would an educated citizen support a policy of governmental deregulation while decrying the lowering of wages and the loss of domestic jobs to overseas entities?

No. No. And no.

And speaking of deceptive delivery systems, here's a free prediction:

After four solid years of orchestrated insanity, the Republican party will nominate the steady, measured former governor of Florida Jeb Bush for president in 2012, heralding a conservative era of comparative stability and reason, rallying exhausted Republicans and luring frustrated Democrats.

And after four years of kerfuffling, it'll seem like a deliverance.

 

 

Comments

[SeenItBefore]

Wonderful post, Steven. More so, the blogger's comments and debate... was moved to read all.

A couple of comments: It must warm the satanic memories of Saul Alinski's heart to see so many posters attempt to disenfranchise another's point via obfuscation.

And, I consulted my best and oldest friend, a rabid neocon (gotta keep 'em close) and he says conventional wisdom has Jindal as the new wunderkind of the RNC. He was right about "W" in 1999, even after I screamed, "Nobody is THAT stupid! Just look at his record as my state's governor".

Jeb doesn't need a war chest, just cash in a few favors from friends of the family.

If he is nominated in '12 and I am still alive, I will have to leave.

[Beaux510]

My wife works in benefits for a major US insurance broker. I'm constantly hearing horror stories of group plan premiums going up by 80 to 90%, not 10-15% which is in the range of what she claims could be substantiated by inflation. Has the cost of covering these groups really doubled in the past year? No.

[blueken]

We are marching down a twisted road of logic and idelology. It is really very simple. The many who are well pay for the few that are sick. We have let the health care industrial complex have it's way with us for many decades. They have failed us miserably. Insurance should be about spreading the risk to as many people as possible. Instead the health care risk pool is divided into small pockets in an attempt to insure only the healthy. Drug prices should be negotiated with the buying power of 450 million Americans. Instead individual companies negotiate with little incentive to drive down costs. Single payer universal health care is the only long term viable course of action. As the boomers age out, it will become more and more apparent.

[hoosier96]

Actually, insurance companies are not "insanely profitable". According to the AP they only average a profit margin of about 6%, pretty small compared to many other industries.

Here's the story: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20091025/D9BI4D6O1.html

Sorry, I didn't mean to let pesky facts get in the way of such fine rhetoric.

[SirReal1]

I read the AP article, and here's what it DID NOT say.

It DID NOT say if the profit percentage was post pay-outs, salaries, and expenses, which would be the reasonable assumption.

So, let's make that assumption and look at their story in that context.

AFTER paying out for Pharmaceuticals covered by the insurance for patients who were "allowed" to get them, AFTER paying out for Doctor ordered tests, treatments, office visits, etc..., AFTER paying out for administrative costs, AFTER paying Salaries to the Insurance Companies Executives (which we know are quite a bit above the norm for comparable positions in other industries), AFTER paying all their salaried and hourly wage employee's, AFTER paying for Executive compensation that does not include salary, AFTER paying for LOBBYING COSTS, CONTRIBUTIONS, and all the OTHER PLACES the Insurance industry CHOOSES to spend money...

AFTER ALL OF THAT, they are still making a 6% PROFIT. which gets disbursed to investors, and the remainder gets reinvested in the Company.

The AP has been a tool of Corporate America for some time now. I wouldn't put much stock in their "glossed over" reporting.

[Social Construct]

Maybe if they'd manage their business a bit better they could add about 800 billion lost for inefficiency and waste. Government waste at least becomes more transparent than these corporate bozos that tout loud and proud about how much better they can conduct business. Just another sales con if you ask me. Single payer now!

[cybexg]

Sadly, you haven't bothered to actually review real studies. If you had, you would have seen that actual profits (true revenue and expense analysis) indicate profits have increased over 430% over the last 10 years. Additionally, similar studies indicate that insurance companies are some of the most profitable companies in the world.

[hoosier96]

Are you talking about health insurance or insurance in general. Because some insurance companies make insane profits, but not the ones that sell health insurance.

And what "real" studies are you talking about? Ones done by Acorn?

[FerrellGummitt]

Hi Steve. I have been to two Tea Bagging Demonstrations and one Townhall meeting. I believe in God and we are homeschooling our kids. I believe President Obama is fast taking us on the road to ruin morally and financially.

In your eyes, am I an "Enemy of the State"?

[elkabong]

It seems you believe Fox more than you believe in God. If it was the other way 'round, you wouldn't be so frightened.

[blueken]

Just ask yourself, would Jesues preach for higher profits for corporations at the expense of the meek and humble?

[jack34]

Don't fear God, fear Fox and the garbage they peddle. They have a stake in making you believe that Obama is the enemy. He is actually the first president in a long time who is fighting against the corporate feudal establishment that the rethugs built for 30+ years making you fear that God is mad and the dems want your guns, etc, etc, etc. Next time you turn on Fox, just picture Charlie Brown's teacher, because thats pretty much all it is on a 24 hour loop of lies and deceit.

[Conk]

The real 'delivery system' is the shadowy controllers that have brainwashed us into believing we actually elect our government leaders. It won't matter if Obama or Bush is elected in 2012. We'll still be the peasants and they'll still be the kings. They'll continue to crap on us and take away most all we have. Nothing will change.

[WBC]

In many pre-industrial societies, peasants comprised the bulk of the population. Peasants are often very loyal to inherited power structures that define their rights and privileges and protect them from interlopers, despite their low status, lack of basic freedoms, and extreme hardship of imposed labor.

Peasants were unable to move away from landholders due to the extremely dangerous bands of criminals who roamed the wilderness of Middle Ages Europe.

You are not a Peasant -- you have basic rights, and freedom to leverage your education and training for the highest rate of pay you can establish.

America is a Democratic Republic and has no inherited monarchy and no King.

Your comment is steeped in ignorance -- are you lacking a basic education? Or are you illiterate?

[rejoyce5]

Would you feel the same way about the teabag protesters if they were all Libs?

[drdubski]

which would never happen so what's your point?

[JoeSchmuk]

oops
"suddenly sentient turkeys"

ha effing ha!

As for the republicans making a comeback in 2012, Bush or no, i think not. Obama is proving to be the man he said he was. Day by day we watch the incremental progress of his promises made during the campaign, and we watch as he remains above the fray, biding his time as he makes one move after another toward the long game, his eye on a prize we just ain't seeing yet. In order to believe Obama has the interests of big whatever in his heart is to believe he is lying to our faces, and i do not believe that. I take him more and more at face value and am increasingly interested to see how it is he is doing what everyone thinks he can't do.

And i will match your prediction. Bush bucks or no, Jeb ain't no match for the Harvard boy. It's going to take more than smear campaigns and disingenuous delivery systems to unseat this cowboy. He is learning as he goes, and i believe you ain't seen nothin' yet. And an acolyte i ain't.

[johnsopinion]

I like this! Well said!

Goals and optimism are not to be lightly discounted.
If only more people would look for what's being done
rather than what they perceive as not being done- to
their satisfaction -perhaps the "change" they seek
would come a little faster.

Like attracts like.
Negatives attracts more negativism. It's a downward
spiral. But, hey, if continual bashing is the thing these
people thrive on, they will reap its rewards.

[JoeSchmuk]

"suddenly sentient turkeys"

ha effing ha!

As for the republicans making a comeback in 2012, Bush or no, i think not. Obama is proving to be the man he said he was. Day by day we watch the incremental progress of his promises made during the campaign, and we watch as he remains above the fray, biding his time as he makes one move after another, with an eye toward the long game.
And i will match your prediction.

[Social Construct]

When I read Steven Weber's stuff, I am always filled with the desire to respond with much more than I always do. I think it's his actor's ability to observe people and their behaviors, whether individually or in groups, and write about them with a clarity that resonates deep within my own world view. I do not know if he leans socialistic in his politics, but he has the empathy of one.

I mean that as a compliment.

Anyway, this post reminds me of when a Confederate soldier was asked why he fought against the Union soldiers, seeing that most of the Southern army was made of non slave holding, poor dirt farmers and others with little or no stake in the aristocratic pillars of the Confederacy. The soldier explained that he was fighting because "y'all are here." Most people follow the leaders that they identify with, no matter the detriment or benefit for reasons that I cannot fathom. Well I could, but it would take a bottle of wine and several hours of good conversation.

[onrecess]

Another Bush? So THAT"S why the right is stockpiling guns and ammo. The end IS near! I gotta go to the gun store!!!

[canadiansoccermom]

That's why there are no viable candidates. When Jeb comes along he's going to win hands down.

[edgarcaycedoc]

Please God, NOT ANOTHER SHRUB!

[WBC]

Would a truly patriotic American defend the practice of insanely profitable drug companies to charge exorbitant fees for medicines that the elderly and infirm cannot afford?

Let me answer as a Disabled American on Medicare: I require 17 insanely expensive medications to survive daily. Left to my own devices I could not pay for one weeks supply let alone one months supply.

The fact is that with my Medicare coverage I have never paid one single red cent for any prescription.

The elderly and infirm have spoken., Are we clear on that?

[karenz20]

Iam confused. I thought you were against socialistic programs. But you are reaping the benefits of one very important one. I am happy for you.

[WBC]

Social Security is not Socialism.

No one is enslaved and no services are stolen (as taken without payment to the provider).

In order to receive Social Security you must pay into the system. When you retire you receive the value of your payment returned in full.

Under Comic-Book­-Marxist-S­ocialism workers are enslaved, they have no freedom of choice as to where to work, who to work for, and cannot leverage their experience and training, degree or certification, for higher pay.

[MaybeMilo]

I'm still waiting for all the people who said they'd leave the US if Obama got elected to LEAVE, already.

[CherokeeGirl]

Thanks Steven, I knew I could at least trust your blog, since you haven't been bought and paid for by lobbyists and corporate shills, yet. :)