I am ashamed of how elected officials are running the country. The name of the game seems to be: say whatever it takes to discredit the other guy--mostly these days, President Obama. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/16/10-most-offensive-tea_par_n_187554.html
Needless to say, he shouldn't be above criticism. Yet, in a little over a year, he's been active on many fronts from pushing through the health care bill to promoting non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Give the guy an "A" for effort.
He orchestrated a health summit, during which Republicans were testy and disgruntled.
Now gay activists are heckling him over the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. They want him to honor a campaign promise to end it. I don't know all the details--much of what I hear on TV news isn't informative but so much bombast. Nonetheless, can't groups push their agendas without so much acrimony?
America extols free speech, diversity of opinion, fair exchange of ideas. But, more and more, national debates are rancorous, uninformative, and mean-spirited.
Despite hours of TV coverage, neither Democrats nor Republicans clearly explained their health care platforms. They merely made dire predictions about escalating costs, higher premiums, and government control over health choices.
Many people I speak to have no idea what "health care reform" really means. Even today, I' m not clear how or when my uninsured niece will get health coverage for her family.
I don't have much hope that public debate will improve. Our country--like the rest of the world--faces serious issues in the 21st century from the environmental to the economic.
Still, we can't seem to put the public good above special interests.
