In Defense of Joe Wilson
I’m a little disappointed that folks seem so offended by Joe Wilson’s shouting “You Lie” at the President last night. The fact that our politics have been so sanitized that there is no forum in which the President must directly confront his critics is far more offensive.Democracy in America sounds like this: The critic says “Mr. President, your plan would potentially bureaucratize personal health decisions, including end of life decisions.” The president responds (indignantly) “My critics would have you believe that we want to set up a bureaucratic review panel dedicated to killing off senior citizens. That is a lie!”How is this a real debate? I’d rather have something like this:And so what if there is some name calling and booing. Let’s not pretend that politics is such a dignified business. For example:
Comment by FELTON WILLIAMSON JR. on 10 September 2009:
It’s not “HEALTH CARE REFORM” it is health care control. Even the name, “HEALTH CARE REFORM” is a lie. It is not a name; it is an unsubstantiated opinion, because the word “reform” means change for the better. Obama’s plan gives the politicians (“WANNABE PEERS”) total control over the individual. The bureaucracy can be used to deny health care to the political dissenters just as FDR (and latter Presidents) used the IRS against their political enemies!FELTON WILLIAMSON
COMMERCE, GA.
Commonsense21c.com
Comment by T Melvill on 10 September 2009:
http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2009/09/10/a-defense-of-joe-wilson-the-democractic-right-to-dissent.aspx
Comment by Michael Nolan on 10 September 2009:
I think we’d all be better off if Congressional procedure allowed for arm-wrestling. Or, in Obama’s case, maybe a game of H-O-R-S-E. I’d go for that. It could be on pay-per-view and Vegas could handicap it.
Comment by Finance Manager on 10 September 2009:
I don’t think Nanny State is remotely perjorative enough anymore for what we allow ourselves to live with.During the campaign I was told: “Unlike Senator Clinton’s plan, my health plan will be voluntary”…
During this speach: “Now, even if we provide these affordable options, there may be those — especially the young and the healthy — who still want to take the risk and go without coverage… The problem is, such irresponsible behavior costs all the rest of us money. If there are affordable options and people still don’t sign up for health insurance, it means we pay for these people’s expensive emergency room visits. If some businesses don’t provide workers health care, it forces the rest of us to pick up the tab when their workers get sick, and gives those businesses an unfair advantage over their competitors. And unless everybody does their part, many of the insurance reforms we seek — especially requiring insurance companies to cover preexisting conditions — just can’t be achieved.
And that’s why under my plan, individuals will be required to carry basic health insurance — just as most states require you to carry auto insurance… There will be a hardship waiver for those individuals who still can’t afford coverage… we can’t have… individuals who can afford coverage game the system by avoiding responsibility to themselves or their employees. Improving our health care system only works if everybody does their part.”President Obama: You Lie!This is complete servitude of every every American citizen to the federal government. Every citizen will now now need to report all their financial details in order to determine if they qualify for a hardship waiver. We need to call for his resignation. We need to demand a return to enumerated constitutional powers.How is it Doctors are REQUIRED to report domestic abuse. Store clerks are REQUIRED to ID for tobacco and alcohol, Athletes are REQUIRED to submit to drug testing. Employers are REQUIRED to report new hires and assist with child support garnishments. All cash transactions over $10,000 are REQUIRED to be reported.It far past time for unrelenting and greater CIVIL disobedience. The way to avoid living in a society like Iran is from time to time create a freedom right of way, create an easement of freedom that is always acknowledged and financially feared by the powers of the moment.If you see a federal employee today, calmly but confidently call him out. You Lie!
Send an email or letter with just those two words on it.
Get a bumper sticker, put a sign in your hard, have a T-Shirt made.Way to go Joe.He was a brilliant man. He was an inspiring beacon of audacious hope. Then he lied.
Comment by Jason Pang on 10 September 2009:
Winky! Haha great article – there are a lot of questionable aspects in respect to universal health care. However, I think a large part of the criticism of Rep. Wilson revolves around whether President Obama actually “lied,” and it’s kind of doubtful that he did:http://www.factcheck.org/2009/09/obamas-health-care-speech/
Comment by Bogart on 16 September 2009:
The only thing Wilson is guilty of is being rude. Of course he is right. He would be right no matter who in the government was up there speaking, except of course Ron Paul.As for this being the death of civility, these media and fellow congress people should review their history where there were fist fights and even a shooting in the halls of congress.