Simma Down Now

The so-called populist anger that has given rise to the Tea Party Movement…

…is mystifying.

Sure, there are always disagreements over policy. This is nothing new. But the hysteria that accompanies every disagreement is incongruous to the issues at hand.

“We want our country back!”
“Socialist!”
“You lie!”

The rhetoric is usually delivered through gnashed teeth. Conspiracy theories are plentiful. Each decision is framed as “the beginning of the end for America.” There’s lots of fuming, brooding, and despair. What if we acted this way in other areas of our lives?

Not a pretty picture.

• If you step on my toe, I should not respond by drawing a weapon.
• If my daughter tips over a glass, I don’t read her the riot act.
• If I’m unhappy with a politician, I write a letter, make a phone call, or cast a vote. I don’t threaten revolution.

The disconnectedness of our wants versus our actions defies logic.

• We want our children to be educated, but we underpay teachers.
• We want safe streets, yet there is distrust of police.
• We go through the trouble of having elections, only to dismiss the results.

The country is attacked; we embark on two wars; our economic well-being nosedives and there is no sign of a Tea Party.

A black man is elected president, and all hell breaks loose.

Curious.

Simma down now.

Our response to adversity should be appropriate, measured, and sensible.

• We embrace free speech, as long as we are doing the talking.
• We act as if abortion is not legal.
• We stress the importance of the rule of law when debating immigration, because we always obey the rules. Right?

Like those who quote scripture when a passage buttresses their claim, we see what we want to see and ignore the rest.

• We agree, or you are wrong.
• We hold that our democracy is the finest system, but we distrust our government.
• We forget that a bad circumstance is not necessarily the result of a mismanaged life.

Sometimes, shit just happens.

• Having talented and able doctors does not mean that we have the best health care system.
• We cannot deport all of the undocumented immigrants, so why do so many see this is the only solution.
• We would rather pay for emergency room care of the uninsured, than find a way to bring them into the insurance system.

Now that we are finally on the verge of passing health care reform legislation:

• I’m encouraged that abuses by insurers, that should have been obvious to all from the beginning, will soon be curtailed.
• I’m delighted that many of my countrymen who have been denied access to health insurance will have the opportunity to both contribute to the system and benefit from it.
• I’m hopeful that the evolution toward “health care for all” continues in the years to come until basic health care is considered to be a right that is not subject to one’s ability to pay.

The legislation will pass. Barack Obama was legitimately elected. The government is not trying to take over your life. America will continue as it always has – following a bumpy road toward enlightenment.

So it’s time for everyone to pause, take a deep breath, and simma down now!

Tagged as: democracy, health care reform debate, i want my country back, policy, populist, ray colon, raycolon, simma down now, socialist, tea party