Over the Line: Tea Bags or ? Bags

I am appalled by the behavior of some members of the Tea Party who assembled outside the Capitol Sunday to protest against the then pending health care legislation. By shouting racial and homophobic epithets at Representatives John Lewis and Barney Frank as the two passed before them, and spitting on at least one racial ethnic member of congress as he walked by them, these so-called tea baggers crossed over the line of public decency and displayed their true identity—persons “with a variety of negative qualities, specifically arrogance and engaging in obnoxious and/or irritating actions without malicious intent.” At least I hope it was not malicious.

While there is no direct correlation between the Tea Party and the Republican Party, the two parties certainly have seemed at times to walk hand in hand. Now that the Tea Party has stepped over the line from accepted public political discourse into territory resembling disrespectful anarchy and mob rule, it is time that Republican Party leaders publicly denounce their behavior and distance themselves from their racism and homophobia, which is exactly what the British Guardian has called for. At least the Brits are not afraid to speak truth to power.

Now that health care legislation has passed and been signed into law, as many as ten Democratic Members of Congress have received death threats. The behavior of some is now, without a doubt, malicious. While the these threats have not been linked to the members of the Tea Party, there is little doubt that some irresponsible rhetoric by a few members of the Tea Party and Republican Party has served to inflame such behavior. But have Republican or Tea Party leaders yet publicly condemned such behavior?

To his credit, Republican John Boehner went on Fox to criticize such behavior. But what about Sarah Palin, Michael Steele, and other Republican leaders? Do they not know that with leadership comes responsibility?

After the Health Care Summit – Universal Basic Health Care

The other day I heard a radio commentator on National Public Radio categorize the Democrat position on health care as viewing health care as a right and the Republicans position as viewing health care as a responsibility. I wonder, must it be either or?

The Declaration of Independence establishes that as a nation “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” While we might have an unalienable right to life, we know that we will not and cannot live forever. Each and every one of us will someday die. Until the day of our death arrives, however, our life ought to be one that is generally free and potentially happy. A life without universal access to basic health care will most likely not be a happy life and illness can place numerous limits upon our individual liberty and freedom.

The Preamble of the constitution states “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Does not universal access to basic health care help insure domestic Tranquilty and one way we as a nation can provide for the common defence and general welfare of ourselves and Posterity?

When only the highly compensated and the wealthy can afford basic health care while the underemployed and those working at near minimum wage cannot afford access to basic health care, our nation is ripe for revolution. Thus universal access to basic health care helps to insure our domestic Tranquility.

There are enemies of the United States other than foreign armies. A pandemic could easily kill more Americans than a military invader. Cancer, heart disease and other illness have, in the past few decades, killed more Americans than any terrorist or foreign conflict. Should we not be investing, as a nation, in defending against enemies such as germs, viruses, and preventable diseases?

When a large segment of our population often has to live and work in pain and discomfort because they do not have access to affordable basic health care, we as a nation have not failed to provide for the general welfare but have burdened and crippled our economy. When productivity is affected by workers unable to work because of preventable or treatable illness and diseases we as a nation suffer. If you currently have access to basic health care you may not be too concerned about whether or not others have such access until you need a plumber, electrician, auto mechanic, or other service provider who is unavailable because an easily treatable illness when untreated due to their lack of access to basic health care.

Universal basic health care—that is immunizations, treatment for common accidents and illness, checkups, preventative dental care, corrective lenses—ought to be the right of every American. It makes economic sense. It is part of the social contract that is reflected in the foundational documents of our nation. On the other hand, there is a limit. Not all health care is “basic”.