Health Care Reform

I am very concerned. Not of the Health care reform being proposed. But of the reactions of the citizens of this country. What is going on with people behaving irrationally; concerned and afraid citizens suffering from knee-jerk reactions making moralistic, judgmental, ignorant comments toward lawmakers; and high powered weapons being brought to public forums intended to share information regarding the health care proposals?

Also, what's up with high profile individuals making wild claims about death panels inciting confusion and fear? Where are the responsibilities of these supposedly educated individuals? Do they not realize the fuel that is being added to the already difficult task of reforming health care? From my point of view, these past few weeks have reminded me of the Ringling Brothers Performance that I took my 3-year-old to last week.

These are just a few observations that have me wondering about the future of America.

I am just an everyday person asking, What ever happened to critical thinking?

Has anyone stopped to consider what the outside world sees of our nation?

I realize that fear breeds irrational thinking and that leads to behaviors like these, but we must all try to stay calm and look critically at what is really going on. Not on what is being said by people who may be reacting without being fully informed.

It is our responsibility to take the time to read and research what is really being presented in the health care proposals instead of blindly jumping on the fear bandwagon. I feel that we should all be mindful of how our behavior is perceived by one another in this country, as well in the global context. I would like to think that collectively we are intelligent, rational, and reasonable individuals that base our opinions on facts presented.

Please take the time to view these links:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/health_care/
http://www.healthreform.gov/
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/show (as of today only 370,000 people have viewed it.)

And finally the link of all 1036 pages.
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text

I think this is a good place to just get started so that you can form your own opinion. You can also click if you support the bill or oppose it. Your vote does matter and it is important that you assert yourself this way. Being informed also gives you credibility when you are making an argument regarding your position.