I got to experience a little slice of the national health reform debate outside of the Darien Public Library this afternoon.
U.S. Congressman Jim Himes, a Democrat from Greenwich who voted in favor of the controversial legislation, had just wrapped up a forum on flooding issues in the region which I covered.
Two or three members of the audience managed to work the health bill into the conversation, arguing it is just one more federal expense that will prevent the government from funding local projects like flood control.
“I’m so upset about it I could just shake … You need to reconsider what you’re spending all that money on. We are not happy about it,” said Bonnie Dudley of Rowayton, whose comments drew some applause and some groans.
On his way to the parking lot Himes, who was running late for another event, stopped for a few minutes to engage a handful of residents upset with him over his vote.
I knew the conversation was off to a bad start when Himes asked for their questions and one woman said: “We’ve got lots of questions. You just don’t have the answers, sir.”
It reminded me of an episode of the short-lived and pretty awful Whoopi Goldberg sitcom from a few years ago. She worked in a hotel or something and an actor portraying then-Republican President George W. Bush showed up. Goldberg’s anti-Bush character spent the whole episode scheming to tell the Commander-in-Chief EXACTLY what she thought about him and his policies. But when her chance came, she stuttered or said hello or shook W’s hand or something, but pretty much flubbed the opportunity.
That was not the case this afternoon with Himes.
Their debate, which was at times tense but not by any measure an inappropriate or over-the-top display, went on for a few minutes and clearly there was to be no agreement. The woman argued the bill was “a very expensive designer band-aid” federal lawmakers “rammed down” voters’ throats. Himes argued he believes a majority of his constituents and a majority of Americans supported the bill’s passage.
She complained about big government and wanted it out of her life. Himes got her to concede government has some responsibilities, such as paving roads and defending our shores and maybe even providing Medicare – at least for those who are already receiving it.
But it was one of those agree-to-disagree moments.
She was not about to say: “You know what Congressman? You’ve changed my mind. The health reform bill was a great idea! Thanks for talking me into it! I love government!” And Himes’ was not about to suddenly confess, right there in front of the Darien Public Library: “You know what? This conversation has convinced me I was wrong, Congress was wrong and the President was wrong. We need to get to work repealing this awful piece of public policy!”
Things wrapped up around the time the woman asked what the legislation meant for Congress members’ health insurance, Himes explained, she wanted to know the specific section of the bill that contained the information, and he offered to have his office send it to her.
As Himes headed for his car, another woman who was upset with the health reform bill grumbled: “I like the fact he’s so very, obviously belligerent.”
Himes needs to be defeated in November. There are 5 Republicans currently running against him, and I think 2 of them look extremely well-suited to CT.
Himes issued the WH talking points via email on the day the bill was signed, and it included the “all children with pre-existing covered immediately” bullet point. When this was shown to be false a day later, he re-issued the same email and only removed that bullet point. No admission of error, just hoping people wouldn’t notice. I find that to be a little sleazy.
What’s wrong with the bill itself is yet to be learned.
What people are really upset about is how it happened, and what it signifies this WH and Congress have the power — and willingness — to do. For example:
By quietly sliding in the student loan business, they put an entire private sector business segment out of work (approx. 30,000 people).
If they can do that, what’s to stop them from targeting any other industry they want to, for whatever reason.
They put in a tax on medical devices, which amounts to 25%. This is eggregious by any standard, but they just put it in the bill without debate, and without caring about its impact on the mostly small businesses who are in that business.
If one can look at the bill separate from its insurance for un-insurable people, it’s clear there is a larger plan in play. It comes from an admin. that thinks it can do whatever it wants, with the complicity of its Congress.
When people laugh at those who are warning that our rights are being taken away, they should try and really understand what is happening. It is absolutely true, and it is also exactly what the President intends.
The proposals the Republicans and the teabaggers have on health insurance reform don’t add up to any real savings, reform or accountability. Ask them if they want to give up medicare? Ask them if they think social security should go? Change is hard for some people.
The CBO says in 2020 our debt will be 90% of GDP thanks to Obam’s deficit budgets. Greece is currently 110% of GDP and is in need of either an IMF or EU bailout. This is where we are heaqded and the Dems are doing it.
We had exclusive video!
http://doingitlocal.com/video/gallery/Earful-for-Himes
Good reporting. This ‘snap shot’ of a single, brief encounter is the essence of the controversy over health care reform. Voters will decide the issue, one way or the other, on November 2nd.
I was outside the Darien library as well. After Mr. Himes spent 10 or 15 minutes discussing the health care issue with the people shouting at him, he went in to conduct the scheduled meeting with residents to address the federal response to the flooding issues our district faces.
As the dozen or so protesters milled about, a young woman approached them and engaged them in conversation. One of the protesters explained why Democrats voted for the bill. I swear I’m not making this up. “They want the old people to die, because they have the memory of freedom.”
Anyone with that belief can’t be taken seriously. They just can’t. Don’t pretend a belief like that is valid and we must “agree to disagree.” The rational, reasonable, moderate approach to this problem is the one taken by Mr. Himes. And that’s what we elected him to do in 2008.