09.19.09
The New Wilsonian Age
As the healthcare debate rages on, it seems more and more evident that the president, the once idealistic and capable darling of the progressive movement, is succumbing to the regressive trends of governing the United States. I have, of course, been following developments in the health-care debate with some interest. The most recent wave-making exchange to make headlines is over the loudmouthed Republican Congressman from South Carolina who yelled “you lie!” during Obama’s speech to the two houses of congress.
The trouble isn’t the heckling. Wilson is probably a racist (after all, he did sponsor a bill to let the confederate flag fly of the the South Carolinian capitol alongside the stars and stripes), but I don’t believe that he was trying to put the “uppity black man back in his place.” Whatever racism he is guilty of just freed him of the restraints that might have helped a non-bigot observe decorum. Moreover, he didn’t even believe that the president was actually lying about the illegal provisions. He later qualified his statement by saying that he felt the provisions in the bill “lack enforcement.” Apparently, its not enough to ban illegals from participating; we need to place a special provision in the bill to euthanize any who happen to show up at hospitals. No, Wilson and Wilsonians like him are driven by corporate graft, are lacking in reason, and in emotional self-control.
Nevertheless, people like Congressman Wilson are the reason why the president is “going soft” on the public option, and it’s tragic. These men in our own government who are willing to take gross liberties with the facts in exchange for a few seconds of fame, or toss out decorum and civility to win the hearts of extremists who already favor their party.
So what is Wilson’s intellectual position? It’s revealed by where he gets his information. Wilson gave an interview in which he claimed that healthcare reform would kill 1.6 million jobs, according to the National Federation for Independent Business - one of the largest business lobbies in the country, and an organization that represents the interests of the healthcare industry. Now we know who will be is underwriting Congressman Wilson’s campaigns in the future. Moreover Congressman Wilson is part of this cabal of American Rightists who seek to stop Obama lest he force their idiot children to get an education that doesn’t involve the rapture as a solution to global warming. So armed with this corporate-taylored statistical wizardry and his some anti-intellectual, evangelical street cred, Wilson is able to lie with a unique combination of false credibility and ignorance of his own falsehoods. Everyone is satisfied with the outcome, and Wilson didn’t actually have to learn anything about government!
The fact is the public option has survived despite its lack of financial support from big business because it is a good idea. All you need though, is a few rednecks, a national media that loves the show, and enough people that don’t have the strength of character to stand up for the future to make something that has genuine public support look undesirable. This unholy alliance between big business and the fundamentalist anti-intellectual movement is ruining the country. I don’t say that to be over the top - I say it because it’s true. Men like congressman Wilson don’t know what socialism is - they’ve never read Marx or Goldman; but they can use this language to comfortably pander to a base that is, frankly, insane. Moreover, they can make a huge fortune in corporate kickbacks (in the name of free speech) and the promise of a think-tank job, writing policy for them when he’s finished in Congress.
Wilson is not alone. He is just one man who is a symptom of a much wider disease. Men and women who refuse to believe that there is any need to fix anything in the US - not because there is nothing to fix, but because they can’t look facts in the face, and would rather scream stories about Obama’s vote gathering SS or make fake Kenyan birth certificates. Including these people in a serious public debate is frankly insane.
So yes, I am angry with the democratic party and with Obama for pandering to these people. Treating them seriously is a mistake. They have nothing constructive to add to the debate. They don’t even understand the need for the debate. They are dangerous because the majority of thoughtful people in the United States are allowing them to distract us from the things that really matter. It’s time to get back on track and fix this country before it collapses under the burden of our own foolishness.
erich said,
September 19, 2009 at 9:14 pm
sounds like you don’t even want us participating in the debate at all.
this entry is full of assumptions and generalizations, lacking in substantiated argument.
diantus said,
September 28, 2009 at 3:29 pm
That all depends on who you mean by “us” I suppose. I attempted to make it clear that I’m pointing fingers at a handful of extremists on the Right, thought I suppose a hat tip to those who have decided to take a constructive position would have been in order.
The objective to health care reform should be to increase access and efficiency, and reduce costs. If your not in favor of doing these things, then that should be your position, and an opposition to reform is completely understandable. However, the argument “we should not attempt to change the system, and in fact should dismantle the existing one” is not often made.
You do make in interesting point about over-generalizing though. I do so here, and perhaps should be more careful in the future.
However, I don’t think that deconstructing the alliance of interests in play here is particularly helpful to the overall point that they share a unity of purpose - to derail the reform agenda at any cost - often using the most despicable and tasteless tactics they can to win attention. There is a common thread that weaves its way through the birthers, the anti-acorn people, the anti-communists, the fascists, and the other groups that have tied themselves to this particular bandwagon.
Regardless, maybe I should clarify my own position next time instead of just complaining about some Congressman who can’t keep his mouth shut.
Kylie Batt said,
May 19, 2010 at 2:46 pm
? ???????, ????? ????????, ??, ??-?????, ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ???????….
????????????? ???????? I have, of course, been following developments in the health-care debate with some interest. The most recent wave-making exchange […….