Townhall Smackdown

The site Recess Rally wants there to be anti-Obamacare rallies in all Congressional districts on August 22nd. There are rallies in all States.

I doubt they will be highly attended. The people in the opposition aren't the rally-attending kind.

HR3200 is rife with payoffs for all the politically active groups.

Congress likes to balance the deficit of such bills on those who are usually too busy working and living to get involved. Progressive politicians have a special fondness for balancing accounts on the backs of children as they can't vote.

Attending rallies is always a hit or miss operation as well.

People rally behind politicians who claim to represent a freer and fairer world. The politicians usually end up being nothing but politicians in the end.

While I worry about the people who are trying to build political futures on the teaparties and recess townhalls, I have to admit that I find myself applauding this round of civil discontent.

The media has invested heavily in efforts to deride the teabaggers and buffoons incapable of carrying on civil discourse. I think the actions of people are appropriate in response to recent events.

The townhalls were not planned as part of an effort to poll the American people on ideas. The goal of the 111th Congress was to steamroll the bill and have it in place before the August recess. The committees spent so much time loading the bill with their speical goodies that they failed to make the break.

In this health care debate, Congress attempted a monumental power grab. HR3200 greatly centralizes the delivery of medical services and creates around 50 new centralized bureaus that can be used to award political cronies with high paying jobs. (Like the $317,000/year political position that Michelle Obama had at the U of Chic Hospital).

The townhalls were not planned. They were thrust upon Congress. As they were not part of a structured system of civil discourse, I would not expect them to be anything other than political rallies.

Barney Frank scored big points this week for comparing the intellect of his opponents to his dining room table.

If the townhalls were planned as part of an attempt to gather information for health care reform, I would be appalled at the low level of discourse. However, as they are primarily a sign of a frustrated people tired of being treated like floor mats, I believe they are a good sign.

Being likened to a dining room table is a step up for those used to being treated as doormats.