It's the People Who Got Small

The organized intimidation and minor violence at health care town halls around the country is cause for concern. Sara Robinson asks the question, Is it fascism yet?

But so far, the "shock troops" who have shown up here (Americans for Prosperity) got off their tour bus armed only with signs, beer guts and Ban Lon. Others protesting socialized medicine at town halls around the country are pensioners already on "socialized medicine," i.e., Medicare. TBogg calls them the "Creamed Corn Mafia."

The upside of last November's election is that young people supported Obama overwhelmingly and overwhelmingly support health care reform. When town hall protests begin attracting large numbers of foot soldiers youthful enough and fit enough to engage in organized violence, be afraid.

That's not to say that there will be no violence from these protests until then. The line between a personal responsibility crowd and a diffused responsibility mob is a thin one. A mob of any age can do serious harm before even its members realize what they've done.

Some recent town hall protesters were inspired by Glenn Beck's 9/12 Project. One of his 9 Principles is a threat against "you", as in "If you break the law you pay the penalty." The remainder are "self" centered, built around me and mine. Per Beck's folksy-kitsch, that's probably because there's a me in America, but not a we.

Principle #7 is important to health care protesters: "I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable."

My point exactly. Protesters are inflamed by the idea that a black president might use their tax dollars to help people not of their tribe. Or, as Frank Schaeffer wrote last week:

"They can't reconcile their idea of themselves with the fact that white men like them don't run the country any more -- and never will again. To them the black president is leading a column of the "other" into their promised land. Gays, immigrants, blacks, progressives, even a female Hispanic appointed to the Supreme Court... for them this is the Apocalypse."

"E pluribus unum" has been on our money and national seals dating from the founding of the republic. "Out of Many, One." Yet, for all the patriotic chest-thumping and flag-waving, protesters seem to have missed that spirit behind the whole America thing. E pluribus unum is Greek to them.

Thankfully, wiser men created the republic they merely inherited.

During World War II, Americans sacrificed for it at home and died for it abroad. They pulled together. They defended the world from tyranny, sure, but in the fog of war many died, not for abstracts like freedom or democracy, but for the guy beside them.

People thought better of the general welfare then, before Cold War paranoia confused promoting community with promoting communism.

Moral forces, not market ones, broadened individual rights and made American democracy more perfect. New Deal and post-war programs served public goals and produced broad prosperity. They improved infrastructure, promoted small businesses and allowed millions of veterans to attend college and own homes. They spurred technological innovation, conquered disease, and created a military and economic superpower -- all while allowing our parents and grandparents to enjoy healthier retirements with security and dignity.

Bent on tearing that down, conservatives have made America an abstraction they pledge to support with their lives and their sacred honor, just not with their fortunes. It's every man for himself -- hardly the spirit that led this country to the greatness they don't have the stomach for. Their time is past.

With apologies to Billy Wilder:

"You're the United States of America. You used to be a world leader. You used to be big."

"I am big. It's the people who got small."

Crossposted at OurFuture.org.

Comments

[FantasticFourFan]

I'm interested in knowing just how many people are acutally showing up for these things. The media made such a big deal out of teabaggers in April and yet more people showed up for Obama's inuaguration then all of those protests combined. Are the numbers on these being exagerrated too?

[gaby]

as a volunteer for obama ,I called one 77 year old woman whose voice shook with fear and all she could say was "I am so afraid" I told her me too but for probably different reasons, I than just begged her to listen to no talk radio or cable shows for one week ,instead listen to music that makes you happy,maybe after a week of music ,you might feel a bit calmer and happier. I can only hope she tried this,this fear is devastating to seniors,please people we could all use a lot more music and less hate talk. love you tom ,you are a hero .

[bbguy60]

How interesting the the "Uber Left" need to inject "race" into a topic that race has not been an issue.
It seems when all else fails the race card comes out of the old "Carvel Play Book"

In the defense of the indefensible they call dissent un- American and from the Bully Pulpit attack those with a differing opinion. This same group of uber liberal seems to think that there is only one side add insult to those true liberals who know that a passionate debate is what has made this country great.

Health Care has become the last straw as far as the silent majority is concerned. After seeing their life's savings go up in smoke, the extremely reckless spending by this and the previous administration they( silent majority) finally came out.

Now they are labeled a mob, Un-American- fascist for starters. Shame on those mean spirited name calling souls that stoop that low . They can stand in the shade of a bonsai tree, all of them at the same time. Pelosi needs to apologize for her outrageous statement and stop inciting more of this anger.

Fascism from Marriam Webster - Are we getting closer? You make the call.
A political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.

[Bronxdude]

In their quest to concoct reality, spread paranoia, encourage dissension, and kowtow to their shrinking birther base, the republicans are inciting people to violence in the name of democracy. Spurred on by vitriolic racist like Limbaugh and Beck, republicans validate hate and are hell-bent on igniting a race war, pitting American against American (unlike the 50s, however, the ensuing violence will be reciprocal). Using code words and phrases, republicans spew inflammatory rhetoric designed to agitate racists, fanatics, segregationists and conservative malcontents and then claim no complicity when these lunatics commit violent and heinous acts aimed at restoring America’s “traditional values,” which is code for resurrecting Jim Crow, misogyny, xenophobia, and other shameful policies associated with pre-1960s America.

[Bronxdude]

The average American refuses to accept that the Republican Nation is at war with the working-class, which is why republicans support the status quo and vehemently oppose healthcare reform, public education, government oversight, minimum wage hikes, worker rights, access to higher education, middleclass tax relief, and, in general, any legislation that would jeopardize the continuation of a credit-dependent, employer exploited, unhealthy, downtrodden, underpaid, debt-laden, undereducated and permanent class of laborers. Similar to exploited sharecroppers, it’s in the best interest of republicans to keep the working-class hopeless, oppressed, unhealthy, misinformed and undereducated. Republicans staunchly supported the Wall Street bailout to protect their own assets, but opposed the automobile industry bailout, which employs thousands of middleclass Americans. The republican aristocracy opposes any kind of governmental oversight that will interfere with their pursuit of exploitive capitalism, which is why they want to abolish the Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, Interior, Education and The Food and Drug Administration. Anything that protects the worker must go. Just like feudal lords, the Republican Nation requires a formidable army to protect their financial interests, which is why they defend unrestrained military spending. The Iraq War will cost $2.6 trillion over 10 years, while health insurance for every American for the same time period would cost $1.2 trillion. Republican fear mongers want to keep America angrily divided by class and race. Universal health insurance would provide hope and elevate the standard of living for working-class Americans, something republicans vehemently oppose.

[Cool-headed]

I think the brouhaha also has a lot to do with communication, or lack thereof. There's another article on HuffPost about Obama "losing the narrative". Indeed, our great communicator has not been able to make his plan clear. There's much room left for confusion and misunderstanding, so those who are already confused must be feeling really desperate. Obama must get hold of the narrative again and be able to educate people about his plan. To galvanize them and bring them together like in his great campaign speeches.

[billhodges]

These two statements about race are so far off the mark that it is rediculous. I work with fraturnal organizations where the majority of the membership is older citizens, both men and women, and I have not heard a negative comment about Obama be based on race. If it were true that race was playing a real factor in peoples unease today I would be the forst to try and counter it and expose it where ever I found it.

What I have seen and heard is more people standing up and speaking out not becayse of race but because of the out of control spending, and the national health care bills with no reall details. People I know and listen to are reading about these topics and I have not seen or been approached by any group to protest certain things. Most of these people standing up now have never done this before and are not violent, just frustrated and loud. The reasons touted by the media and some polis is so far from the truth but they figure that if they say it enough people will actually believe it.

It won't work this time. Things are changing and these citizens are a firm part of the Hope that we as citizens can stop this fall into Socialism as we leave our freedom and liberties behind. Another thought, these protesters for the most part are old and what I hear is they are more fearful for their families.

[ramblin jack]

nonsense you give yourself away with the falling into socialism remark. I doubt you really even know what socialism is.

[Tom Sullivan - Huffpost Blogger]

Race is one component, but I think on the whole the angst is more tribal, as both Schaeffer and I suggested.

The dearth of details on what's in a final bill is indeed frustrating, even among supporters of reform.

But I'm anxious to see how many of the suddenly alarmed protesters are willing, on principle, to opt out of their socialist Medicare, and to give up their socialist Internet, interstates, and phones that depend on government-launched satellites.

[eklektikone]

Racism a subcategory of tribalism. And I'm not going to be cowed into not calling the hysterics and furious emotion as something other than what it is. Let's examine closely for a minute where are all this genuine anger is coming from. Recall the disruptive woman who screeched, "I want my America back!!"

Now what exactly does she mean -- we're becoming socialist? Hmmmm, let's think about that. We already have so-called forms of socialism (medicaire and medicaid). No hue and cry. Bush spent recklessly for an unfounded war of aggression which directly went against the idea of America as fair. Where was their outrage? Their silence was deafening.

No, this is about something else. Here's the difference between Republicans and Democrats. Democrat say "let's help people" and Republicans reply, "Yeah, and who's going to pay for that?" Basically, a myopic and selfish response of the entitled. So egalitarianism and tolerance aren't really the defining factors of America. As a nation, historically we've been dragged, kicking, spitting, cursing, and fighting to be fair. Disenfranchising "the other" is quintesentially American. We've always fought against inclusion and living up to constitutional ideas. This is yet one more chapter.

So I don't buy the mock-outrage against racism charges. It'sugly to say, but the truth often is ugly: Tribalism has many forms,one of the most virulent is racism. There, I said it. Deal with it.

[gulfcoast50]

Off topic, but...that­'s my favorite movie line ever!!

[zola77]

"...for them this is the Apocalypse­."

Indeed. It really does seem that they feel this way.

[EQueen]

It is truly sad to be a citizen of one of the so called industrialized nations and not have real Health care as a Right of Citizenship as in Canada, England. France and other CIVILIZED countries. WE want to be the BEST at everything except caring for our own people. Americans come in all colors, shapes and sizes. When will the masses stop shouting and sit down and READ the proposed plan and try to understand that some of our law makers are trying to make a change for the better. With the Public Option, everyone will have coverage either through a government run plan or a private plan. It just levels the playing field so the insurance companies can't discriminate against those with pre-existing conditions. This will lower the cost of insurance and put Preventative measures in place to help people learn what to do to stay healthy. Don't be fooled, there are some in Washington (Congress) who have government run healthcare and it's the best in the country. Just remember, you and I pay for their healthcare but some of them don't think that we deserve have healthcare. How ironic is that? We pay the bills for this country and their salaries but they don't think very much of us - The People of the United States. THINK ABOUT IT AMERICA because your very life depends on it.

[eklektikone]

America's humanity and definition have been tested before. Two of the most salient examples are the Civil War and the McCarthy Era. In each of those cases, it came down to how much we really believe in the principles and rhetoric of our Constitution. In short, could we hold up to the definition of America.
With the rise of technologies like the internet with YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, these moments are accelerated and crystallized. I think Blue Dog Republican, rabid Right-wingers, and hateful white people who can't reconcile an America that's not only about them don't have the same leeway and time to build their hatred and hateful strategies.

They're exposed instantly by the technology. Their hypocrisy is easily exposed and put out there for we, the American people, to decide what we think is right or wrong. Newt, a wannabe McCarthey, can't prosper in the 21st century because technology makes his duplicity and distortion transparent. So,I still, despite losing a lot of sleep at night, believe in the generosity of the American people and that the idea of America will withstand this attack as it did in the 1860's and 1950's. I'm often exasperated and frustrated, but I believe what makes America America will prevail.

[Tom Sullivan - Huffpost Blogger]

"I'm often exasperated and frustrated, but I believe what makes America America will prevail."

Amen. I'm right there with you.

[apoyo]

We are seeing the underbelly of the beast.

It's not a pretty sight.