Lying: It’s a legitimate strategy!

The attempt by the Conservative / Right Wing / Neocon / Sith movement to kill health care reform amuses and sickens me. I say “amuses” because, as a Canadian, this debate really doesn’t directly affect me. I say “sickens” because the absurd and outright false claims being asserted by the Right make me very, very thankful of my citizenship. They have clouded the argument to the point that even the people for reform have lost focus. Despite having both a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress, they continue to waffle and compromise like all Democrats seem to do.

The “death panels”, “Socialized Medicine” and “rationing” all take away from the actual issues. They scream their vitriol and proclaim wild perversions of even the smallest gestures. They are distracting the public, and what’s worse, it’s working. The media has lost focus, unsure of whether it’s more important to spread truth or just try to refute the lies. I’m sort of amazed that in the age of the 24-hour news cycle they can’t find the time to do both. I think John Stewart does a better job in 30 minutes, personally.

Americans like to claim they are the “greatest country on Earth”, that they are “#1″, usually while doing a hit off a beer bong. I have always wanted to know, just what do they think they are the “best” at? By what standards do they judge their country? Just what strange alternate reality do you need to conjure up those stellar results, when study after study shows quite the opposite.

America needs to take a serious look at itself in the national mirror. Stop spitting out slogans and cute/terrifying catch-words. Look at the facts, for once. Listen to what the man who was elected has to say, then try to find actual counter-arguments based on logic and reason. There is an actual discussion to be had here, why aren’t they having it?

Obama is not a Socialist/Nazi/Kenyan, but he is also not Superman, the Flash, or even Aquaman. He has already proven himself unable or unwilling to make the kind of sweeping reforms we all drooled over during the campaign. Do you really think he’s going to be able to indoctrinate your children, take away yer guns, and kill your grandma? You are giving him way too much credit. He is a politician, not an evil zealot.

A lot of these sideshows only highlight the sheer magnitude of the ignorance in America today. In a country where one fifth of the population believes the Sun revolves around the earth, it’s not hard to see how the people in charge (read: rich corporations) can rev up the propaganda engine to frightening new levels. Do you really think there’s no connection to how much money these politicians get from the health care industry and their propensity to push crazy theories and lies?

Wake up, seriously. This is supposed to be the most important issue of your time. You are supposed to be changing things, remember? Have you forgotten all the speeches? What happened to “Change we can believe in”? I wanted to believe. Instead we are getting (surprise!) mixed results. Close Guantanamo, Yes! (Good!)…But when, and how? (Bad!)… Protect homosexuals in the military?…Nope! (Bad!)…

He’s not “radical” left, he’s barely left of centre! If there is no Public Option, Mr. Obama might as well sit back and try to enjoy the rest of his single term in office. The GOP will turn their victory into the President’s great failure, and he will never recover from it. I don’t think even Democrats will support him after that. I just hope this doesn’t result in *shudder* President Sarah Palin.