Looking for Listening Ears in Washington DC Politicians One of We the People Speaks Out

One of We the People Speaks Out

Mary Katherine May

March 12, 2014

The debate over the Affordable Care Act is passionate and heated.  The supporters of the so-called law known as Obamacare stress success stories while opponents cite stories told by those negatively affected.  Mr. Obama claims that citizens opposing the bill baptized in his name do not want to help their fellow Americans and worse. 

Supporters want to set about fixing the errors of the current law.  Opponents want to repeal the entire law and begin again with input from all ideological sides in order to reach a compromise where everyone gets something, but no one gets everything.  Supporters want opponents to concede and shut up.  Opponents cry foul and feel they have been railroaded at least in part for the reason of being shut out of the creation process.

What is not apparent as this tug of war continues is that the law as it stands is not solely owned by the few people in Washington D.C., specifically the men and women elected to represent us in the decision making process.

We are the people. We are where the focus of our legislators should be, and I fail to see clearly how this is true today.  There exists a huge ideological split between those who believe that the federal government is the best chief operator of policy versus those who champion laws enacted that enable people themselves to have control. I have no doubt that both camps truly care about doing what is right. I have no doubt that each camp passionately believes itself to be right with the other camp being wrong. Yet to lean toward either extreme benefits no one. Unless there is dialogue utilizing give-and-take respectful discussion the choice lies in the hands of the side in power.

Right now the situation in Washington D.C. is not about We the People. It is about the haves and have-not's who occupy the chairs in the Senate, the Congress, and the Oval Office.  Attitudes promoting an all-or-nothing philosophy has brought the situation to a stalemate as tight as a traffic jam in New York City.  Character assassination, which is rampant, is not discussion or debate about issues but rather bully behavior no different than that seen in elementary schools spoken by immature children.  I believe that without a doubt all sides in opposition to each other in Washington D.C., including the President of the United States of America, willingly choose to be in the position in which they find themselves and which has led to a complete impass with no progress.

Sadly we hear over and over again that the “other side” or “the other side of the aisle” doesn’t care, even desires destruction of a particular class or group of people.  That is a complete untruth which when perpetrated is manipulative and shameful. It is demagoguery plain and simple performed to create emotional fervor against their opponents. Americans should not be at war among themselves with each side claiming to be fighting for victory over the enemy.  Where are the adults who can disagree yet still get along and progress to a decision?

Where is the truth? Who is right? Who is wrong?  Is there anyone who sincerely craves a government that cares about all people and not only those who agree with a singular position?  The truth is to be found in the desire that overrides personal position and personality in order to move ahead,  all for the purpose of reaching the same end goal.  Blaming does nothing. Taking responsibility for resolution through a cooperative process yields results.

I cannot in any way as I look at the situation created by the Affordable Care Act understand how the Democrats can claim success while ignoring those that the law has hurt, nor can I understand the Republicans sobbing over the tragic results of millions while at the same time denying the success claimed by those whom the law has helped.  To the point of nausea, I listen to both sides talk while making no effort to listen. 

Our representatives who seem to have forgotten the definition of their leadership positions talk AGAINST and AT each other while listening with closed ears. It the difference between a caress and a slap in the face.   Our president pushes forward without acknowledging that the poopy mess attached to his namesake cannot be fixed without changing the diaper.

Is it possible to repair a law printed upon umpteen thousands of sheets of paper or is it less expensive to throw out the current law and start over to achieve the goal desired?  To state that the AFA is good as it stands except for a few tweeks, and how dare the opposition challenge it without presenting an alternative changes the subject.  Such a position denies facing what is at hand and that is sad.  To state that the AFA is at least a solution, even though imperfect to the point of creating more problems than it fixed, is in essence playing a sick practical joke on the American people. Since when is a law that is only “good enough” acceptable when it relates to the health and well-being of human lives?

What a shame, Mr. President, members of the House of Representatives, and members of the Senate.  I for one am not a player piece on a Monopoly board. I am one of We the People.