A little over a year ago, I had the chance to attend a local health care town hall meeting. The goal, as I understood it, would be for our local polticians to explain what they were doing regarding the health care reform bill that was taking shape, explain some of the ideas, and then ask for comments/advice from the public.
What it was instead was a 90 minute screaming fest of fear and hate from members of the Tea Party. I was in the 2nd row, and saw it myself. People literally screaming and shouting for 90 straight minutes. Instead of a reasoned discourse of people to find common ground - it was members of the Tea Party who not only didn't want to listen to anything, but wanted to prevent anyone else from listening. To adapt a phrase, it was like having a debate with a pigeon. They showed up, knocked everything onto the floor, crapped on the table, then ran away to claim victory with their friends.
In the end, though, healthcare reform was passed. It wasn't perfect. It's not single payer, there isn't a public option or even the hint of one. But it does install some greater controls upon the insurance industry. It's the step in the right direction.
My hope is to find those stories where health care reform, now being known as Obamacare, has worked. And find out where it hasn't, and what might be done better in the future.
