tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post236130912268690988..comments2023-10-22T06:54:40.529-04:00Comments on Identity Check: My Experience at a Town Hall Meeting...Anokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05675278947623136467noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-71184660257228918452009-09-17T14:37:05.846-04:002009-09-17T14:37:05.846-04:00Monkey, I suppose your a picture of health, too ri...Monkey, I suppose your a picture of health, too right? DO you do a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio every day like you're supposed too? Do you eat fat laden foods and foods with transfats? Drink soda? Coffee? Alcohol?<br /><br />You probably do all of that and don't exercise.<br /><br />We all do things to "harm our health" and we do so on purpose. So unless you would like to be refused healthcare for every single thing you do that causes health problems, then I suggest you stop pointing fingers at what other people do.<br /><br />Oh, and by the way, I'm not refused insurance because I smoke. I'm refused insurance coverage because of a health issue that was NOT in my control, and has not been a problem in 9 years. Yet I'm still uninsurable<br /><br />Figure that one out.<br /><br />But again, your debate isn't about what the healthcare proposal actually is - which if you read the bill, and watched the congressional address you'd know that you, the tax payer are NOT paying for it - instead you make it personal with a straw man argument.<br /><br />It's the same with everyone who was there as well. Let's make it about what the other guy does (while hiding what they themselves do or don't do) with little regard for the FACTS.Anokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05675278947623136467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-60102979230535169122009-09-17T13:10:52.254-04:002009-09-17T13:10:52.254-04:00You were there because of health care correct? An...You were there because of health care correct? And yet you finish off by telling how you rolled then sucked down your cigarette. That is one of the major problems with people surrounding the health care debate on both sides. No personal responsibility. You want universal health care or some sort of half assed version of that and you dont take care of yourself. You want to be able to have your cake and eat it too. Smoking causes cancer and I know your song and dance you live in a family of smokers who haven't had any illnesses related to it. But that doesn't mean you wont. And you expect to have health coverage even though you purposely harm yourself with cancer causing toxins. Where is the logic there?Monkey Suithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420352572478037246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-79846640905303975552009-09-10T13:37:08.483-04:002009-09-10T13:37:08.483-04:00CTman! Nice to see you! I'm glad my last parag...CTman! Nice to see you! I'm glad my last paragraph was worth your while ;) LOL! Have you gone to one of these things yet? It's worth the experience, I think - but I won't be doing it again that's for sure.<br /><br />Cindy - thanks for stopping in! I love, love, love hearing opinions from our friends in other countries. I think it gives us the ability to step outside of our argument for a minute to consider the truths of other plans, other customs, other lifestyles, laws, and countries.<br /><br />And of course - no system is perfect. People aren't perfect therefore systems will never be! But I'd argue that the US system isn't even adequate. I think I will be back to blogging more as time goes on - summertime is always a busy time for us here - lots of food to pick, can, and prep ;) SO thanks for stopping in, I hope you do more often and give us the Canadian perspective, eh? ;)Anokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05675278947623136467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-84177450911695878112009-09-10T00:14:38.545-04:002009-09-10T00:14:38.545-04:00Anok, Your blog is wonderful. The commments from y...Anok, Your blog is wonderful. The commments from your readers are equally interesting.<br /><br />I've just listened to President Obama make his case for health care reform on the (dreaded) CNN. I am a Canadian and our health care system, while not without certain problems, provides care for everyone. <br /><br />This town hall meeting you describe so brilliantly was ridiculous. It will be hard to get anything done in a country that insists on aligning all decisions along divided party lines. Canada is not exempt from this problem in politics either, by the way. Perhaps this is the best that can be expected in a democratic process if participants are ill-informed or poorly educated. cgncindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03261708139916993182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-28178279250233516922009-09-05T23:46:28.966-04:002009-09-05T23:46:28.966-04:00I am glad you went to the event... Even if the onl...I am glad you went to the event... Even if the only satisfying result was the last paragraph in your post, which made your going there well worth my while. lolConnecticut Man1https://www.blogger.com/profile/08923884330387123010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-72537761226069854952009-09-05T10:28:16.444-04:002009-09-05T10:28:16.444-04:00Hahahah LMAO Kev - I can always count on you to br...Hahahah LMAO Kev - I can always count on you to brighten my day!<br /><br />I will say - it did re-vamp my political passion a bit to be there, but the after-effects have been long lasting and draining, unfortunately. And I think you are right - the people showing up to these things are 100% the bottom of the barrel so to speak. They are frightening - not because of anything other than feeling like you've entered into a real life version of 'Idiocracy' and are witnessing it first hand.<br /><br />How did we get so stupid? And....crazy? <br /><br />And i think that the polarization of the parties is alienating everyone else. Particularly those on the right who aren't extreme right. I've noticed a definite shift of the moderate Republicans towards the left-side of the spectrum, while the extreme right seems to be getting more and more extreme.<br /><br />I mean - we have guys carrying assault weapons to presidential speeches after declaring force would be used if necessary, and pastors praying that Obama dies and goes to hell. WTF?!?!<br /><br />Hell, even the far left and Anarchists dint' go that far - and we had a lot of reasons to hate Bush. Of course, there was always that fear of being thrown in one of Cheney's gulags.... ;)<br /><br />Sometimes, I sit back, and I just think. No wonder the rest of the world thinks Americans are stupid and batshitcrazy. It's very frustrating to see such a lack of intelligence, willingness, and openmindedness among full grown adults.<br /><br />*sigh*Anokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05675278947623136467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-24217629579208966322009-09-04T10:06:00.742-04:002009-09-04T10:06:00.742-04:00That might be the most fantastic closing sentence ...That might be the most fantastic closing sentence in the history of the blogosphere. I mean that quite sincerely. <br /><br />Oh, my dear friend. I do feel for you. Now you know how I, your opposite minded friend, felt talking to the doped out "hope....change..." idiots during the last election cycle. <br /><br />Sadly, there are events which seem to galvanize the lower ends of the gene pool from our respective camps. These tend to stem from the most simplistic ideas that elicit base emotional reactions. Namely: fear.<br /><br />I've been a bit spooked by some of the folks I see at those meetings as well, and the mouth foaming on display. <br /><br />It's as if we've (as an entire people, as I see it from both sides of the isle depending on the situation)forgotten how to have basic civil discussions.<br /><br />Tis very sad. <br /><br />But I'm sure at sooooooooome level you kinda enjoyed the confrontational aspect, no? The Anok I know relishes such "challenges."<br /><br />A bit like the "Terrance Man masturbates" scene from "Field of Dreams"??? :-) <br /><br />(hopefully you know that reference, otherwise it will sound extremely weird...I'm talking about the part where Annie challenges "Eva Braun" to "step outside" in the PTA meeting)kdawg68noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-84001651548018646082009-09-04T08:32:44.627-04:002009-09-04T08:32:44.627-04:00SHirely - Yes! The problem that I'm having is ...SHirely - Yes! The problem that I'm having is actually with my equipment, though. I either upload all sound and no picture or all picture and no sound :( I suck at this media stuff LOL.<br /><br />Ian - you are absolutely 100% spot on correct. They showed up not to discuss but to intentionally make a hostile environment more hostile, and to put the politicians between a rock and a hard place.<br /><br />Kristen - it's sad, isn't it? And yet many still proclaim to understand the process when they clearly don't. *sigh*<br /><br />Windroot - YES! Exactly! YOU hit the nail on the head!<br /><br />Ben - good to see you man! You need to MOVE NORTH. I'm telling you. Our Congressman has been holding bazillions of these rallies and i honestly don't know how he does it without losing it completely!Anokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05675278947623136467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-43152162325542762152009-09-04T07:16:56.190-04:002009-09-04T07:16:56.190-04:00Much sympathy. I've watched enough town hall f...Much sympathy. I've watched enough town hall footage online - and through the Daily Show and Colbert Report's comedy making fun of them - to have a real headache from the idiocy and ignorance surrounding the town hall meetings myself.<br /><br />My local representative pissed off people here by refusing to hold one of these town hall meetings. And why? Because he started getting death threats from local Republicans. (And here in lovely North Carolina, recent polls have shown that most Republicans here don't believe Obama was born in America. I really need to get out of this state, obviously.) It's sad, I've heard from the guy fairly regularly for a couple of years now through my online form letter activism, and he's a smart, thoughtful, progressive guy, really concerned with the future of this country and the wellbeing of its people. It's a wonder someone like him could be elected in a state like this these days with the psychotic forces the right's been mobilizing. (And just as much of a wonder that the FCC hasn't shut down Fox News yet.) Sad times.Benjamin Fennellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03969365899812684110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-15572789438220975352009-09-04T05:47:19.290-04:002009-09-04T05:47:19.290-04:00This post was wonderful to read and wonderfully in...This post was wonderful to read and wonderfully informative. There is no doubt in my mind that a big part of the problem in this country is that people (a) see only their rights and not their responsibilities and (b) they have no clue how things work, be it health care, the political process, whatever. <br /><br />I work with the public every day and for the most part people are clueless but pleasant except for the ones who are clueless and indignant that their cluelessness has put them in a bind that I won't immediately drop everything and fix for them despite the fact that I wold have to break the law to do so.<br /><br />I guess we have finally reached the nadir of the town meeting process with the footage of the lady in a wheelchair being booed and harassed while she asked her question. Class all the way for these people, eh?Windroothttp://www.windroot.com/everyman/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-63623296827033937612009-09-03T22:23:34.342-04:002009-09-03T22:23:34.342-04:00Thanks for your first hand account. Sometimes I wo...Thanks for your first hand account. Sometimes I wonder if the media is accentuating the negative... but sadly, mass ignorance and illiteracy is all too real.Kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11926081156633887115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-10525346565100101012009-09-03T21:49:43.958-04:002009-09-03T21:49:43.958-04:00The problem is that if you start having them escor...The problem is that if you start having them escorted out for being disruptive then they will attempt to spin this into something about their freedom of speech is being curtailed and use that sound bite to further inflame their numbers to engage in even more intimidating behavior. They are deliberately attempting to create a confrontation where they can imagine that they are the ones being oppressed and then they come back in greater numbers.<br /><br />That's how brown-shirts operate. I know it's not nice to liken people to brown-shirts, but if they were principled political conservatives they would be attempting to have a reasoned conversation with your Representative and try to prove him wrong in an open forum, instead, well, I don't have to tell you what they did instead...Ian Thalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15348768867561450314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-81141414592520094612009-09-03T21:31:18.004-04:002009-09-03T21:31:18.004-04:00The video I'm going to talk you through. Once...The video I'm going to talk you through. Once you load it on to your computer you need to save it to your computer. You can use youtube or even on your blog and then upload. Oh, you need a video capture device too.Miss Shirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15948305900722983328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-57941062827820958492009-09-03T21:08:05.272-04:002009-09-03T21:08:05.272-04:00Ian and TT - I think it would have been even bette...Ian and TT - I think it would have been even better if they had escorted out the people who had no intention of listening to what the man said, and let in the hundreds of people waiting outside who actually did want to listen to him. They clearly had their minds made before they came in, and were only there to yell "LIAR!" everytime he answered a question.<br /><br />*sigh*<br /><br />Dan - yes I think it will be worth it, so long as it's done right.<br /><br />Dave - Oh! ouch! LOL. Good to see you man, I feel like I've been away too long!Anokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05675278947623136467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-8379586728332212962009-09-03T20:52:33.563-04:002009-09-03T20:52:33.563-04:00Good GAWD! Here the Chairperson would have given O...Good GAWD! Here the Chairperson would have given ONE and only ONE warning and if the disruptive people had continued to carry on like you describe then they would have been escorted to the door by the police. We don't allow hecklers to control meetings. Along with the right to freedom of speech comes responsibilities and speaking only when it's your turn to speak is the order of the day.timethiefhttp://thistimethisspace.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-18837471665773713792009-09-03T18:21:04.323-04:002009-09-03T18:21:04.323-04:00I'll defer to these gentleman to comment for m...I'll defer to these gentleman to comment for me.<br /><br />“The men the American people admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest most violently are those who try to tell them the truth.”<br />- H. L. Mencken<br /><br />“Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives.” – John Stuart MillDave Dubyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03279370558997246976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-38625731165632257942009-09-03T17:24:50.188-04:002009-09-03T17:24:50.188-04:00Oh man, I can only hope this is all worth it somed...Oh man, I can only hope this is all worth it someday when this change happens. Worst case scenario, things are just as poorly run as they are now with private corporations.LiteralDanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16704368269389527451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-69461560608176381482009-09-03T14:16:59.577-04:002009-09-03T14:16:59.577-04:00We need plenty more of these first hand accounts o...We need plenty more of these first hand accounts of how these people are actually disrupting the democratic process when they refuse to allow elected representatives to answer questions from their constituency.Ian Thalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15348768867561450314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-11695884152456067212009-09-03T11:34:48.469-04:002009-09-03T11:34:48.469-04:00LOL Missy - I think a better solution would be to ...LOL Missy - I think a better solution would be to unplug and confiscate all TV's :D<br /><br />Mark, I eventually did lose my patience, and by the end was yelling too. I never got a chance to speak and there was so much misinformation being spewed that I simply HAD to start yelling out statistics since they weren't even given the congressman a chance to answer.<br /><br />Luckily, I have a big voice, that carries well. I could at the very least out-yell all of the conservatives that I was surrounded by.Anokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05675278947623136467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-26992617197390413022009-09-03T11:21:09.570-04:002009-09-03T11:21:09.570-04:00Trying to stay polite under those circumstances wo...Trying to stay polite under those circumstances would have tested my patience.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-19754540915376751852009-09-03T10:59:09.465-04:002009-09-03T10:59:09.465-04:00Can we bomb fox news corp building now please?Can we bomb fox news corp building now please?Missynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-21499087841677110292009-09-03T09:34:46.118-04:002009-09-03T09:34:46.118-04:00Yeah there was a fair amount of that, too. And the...Yeah there was a fair amount of that, too. And the "Oh please! You're planning on...." enter in some conspiracy theory. <br /><br />I'm the Anarchist, I'm the one whose supposed to like conspiracies, dammit!<br /><br />Man no wonder this country is in the fix it' sin....Anokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05675278947623136467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4342220819301909377.post-80841198619456249252009-09-03T09:32:03.252-04:002009-09-03T09:32:03.252-04:00I can't say I'm surprised. What was the pr...I can't say I'm surprised. What was the proportion of them shouting "Wake up! Open your eyes!" because I've found this particular crowd loves that phrase. As if they were somehow privy to better insight (having not actually read the proposal) and the rest of the world is snoozing.Jennhttp://www.cabbagesnkings.netnoreply@blogger.com