Why do we need all these town meetings on health care anyway?

[garybeck]

I don't remember having town meetings on the bailout.

I don't remember having town meetings on the war.

Aren't these meetings just a convenient place for teabaggers and gunslingers to gather in front of cameras and make it seem like they're more numerous than they really are?

Don't get me wrong; I think town meetings in general are a good idea and I want people to have more ways to have their voices heard.

I just think these town meetings are doing more harm than good, creating more chaos, giving a louder voice to a relatively small group of people who are generally misguided by lies and disinformation in the first place. People turn on the TV, see all these town meeting protests, and it really seems like half the country is up in arms against health care reform... But if you read the polls, the vast majority are in favor.

I think the town meetings are creating a distorted view of how the american people feel about health care reform. I don't know if this is by design or by accident. Either way, it's not doing much good.

[mikelgb]

1. To try and get us to swallow a huge shit covered horse pill

the gel coating is wearing off though... the health care reform became health insurance reform

double plus good reform ya know

[valerief]

4. Well-phrased. nt

[liberal N proud]

2. I think they were part of the plan to kill health care reform from the start

I think the whole reason health care reform was delayed until Congress was in recess was so they could have these public farce called town halls and claim the public is against reform.

The propaganda in conjunction with a few loud mouthed conservatives and wa-la, you have the question weather we really want to fix the health care crisis or not.

[CoffeeCat]

7. Yes, and if you listen to talk radio...

...each program is aggressively demanding that their listeners attend these town-hall meetings and raise hell.

We even saw pictures of some of these town-hollers---and they were revealed as some of the same "actors" in the
Brooks Brothers riots! I mean really...are we going to let them get away with this???

The average person may not understand the particulars of single payer or the public option--but they do understand
that the system is broke and needs reform.

These town-hall meetings are a stage---intended to exaggerate the wingnut contingent that is against reform.

[skier_]

12. So valid,

it's all a delay.

[Dreamer Tatum]

3. I think your logic is faulty

Part of the point of the new Administration is disclosure, debate, and openness. Unfortunately, you have to take the wackos with the good. "if it was good enough for Bush, it's good enough for me" is less than we should settle for.

[CoffeeCat]

10. But the problem is...

I haven't heard a lot of fact and truth about healthcare reform.

If you're talking transparency here, where is Obama on explaining to the American people
how the system really would run and what it would look like?

Has anyone in this administration gone in front of the American public and played offense--explaining
to the American people why we need this reform, what it will look like and how their lives will be
better after reform is made?

I pay a great deal of attention, and I've barely heard a thing!

The reason "death panels" and "socialized medicine" are entrenched memes--is because the Republicans are
controlling the messaging on this! We are not out front--like Bush was on privatizing Social Security. Bush
led that effort, explained it all and spun it all as positive. Sure, the idea was crap--but he tried and he
communicated and it was an organized effort.

This is not. The Republicans are able to demonize because our message is not strong!

Yes, Obama steps out every once in a while to explain that there aren't death panels, etc. That's
damage control, and he wouldn't have to do that if the message of reform from front and center.

It's not. And it's a damn crime!

[John Q. Citizen]

14. Unless it's single payer and then let's not discuss it?

[CoffeeCat]

5. This is what I truly think...

I think these meetings were set up purposely to give the appearance of discord. Does anyone
really think it's a coincidence that right-wing radio has been whipping up their listeners
into a frenzy and encouraging them to disrupt these meetings? Come on. This has all been
orchestrated chaos, designed to manufacture some kind of "fight" about healthcare.

The truth is...most people recognize the system is broke. So many are suffering. So many
other nations have national healthcare and they are doing just fine.

I believe these meetings were specifically designed to magnify the fringe naysayers--thus
manufacturing the appearance of a conflict.

This was specifically done, so Congress can justify their own foot-dragging and their own
"Oh we just can't pass healthcare. This is so complicated. It's so controversial" facade.

The reality? It was long decided that no meaningful healthcare would pass--because that's what
the insurance companies wanted. So, that's what they'll get.

All of this conflict is muddying the debate.

I also fault President Obama. Look at how Bush went on tour and cogently tried to sell Social Security
privatization. Bush was wrong, but he spearheaded a very impressive PR effort--and they didn't allow
naysayers in! At least Bush tried! I don't see the same strong effort from Obama. I'm sorry, I just don't.

He's going to let Congress work it out, when he knows damn well that they're owned by Big Insurance.

This really, really sucks.

[Echo In Light]

9. +1

[midnight]

6. Really. The banksters asked for secrecy and lots of money or else, and we

delivered.

[undeterred]

8. Because its a big change and there are a lot of lies out there.

[EFerrari]

11. Aren't there always town hall meetings this time of year?

[Romulox]

13. It was to astroturf to build support for mandatory public insurance.

Public comment was not anticipated nor desired.