Our View
No town halls, no problem
Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
Paul Poliquin, owner of Paul's Clothing and Shoe Store, speaks with U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, about the current health-care system at Poliquin's store on Lisbon Street in Lewiston on Tuesday.
Picture this.
You're an important person in a high-stakes debate. The country is energized; powerful interest groups are trying to influence its outcome. Whatever you decide will affect millions of people and cost billions of dollars. Everybody wants a piece of you.
You need real information, not prepackaged spiels from planted "citizens" or screeching from uninformed fear-mongers. You're searching for a precious material: The valued opinions of real, flesh and blood citizens with no other interest than what's important to them.
There are two ways to get it. One, you can hold a "town hall" meeting and invite all comers. It's a risky proposition, because these meetings can easily be hijacked by those who scream loudest, which would yield nothing. Or, you can slide into some comfortable shoes and start walking.
Which would you do?
Sen. Olympia Snowe chose the latter. She walked through Lewiston, Portland and Bangor this week talking to real people about the soul-searching debate on health care. National pundits say she just might be the most important vote on the issue, given her position on the Senate Finance Committee.
In fact, Maine's whole delegation has eschewed town hall-style meetings. Elsewhere across the nation, their colleagues are holding them, many of which are providing nothing but platforms for organized interests to loudly repeat talking points, rather than exercise the good old-fashioned Yankee tradition of civil discourse and respectful debate.
The bizarre online video of a bewildered Delaware Congressman, Mike Castle, being berated by one attendee regarding the president's birth certificate — another canard — and then leading the crowd in an impromptu Pledge of Allegiance is Exhibit A for not holding these town halls.
Now, they don't all melt down. Their value, however, might be minimal. Health care draws a crowd, and the crowds have been largely populated by partisans (in one form or another) who wish to promote an agenda. Real voices, from real people, can get drowned out.
That's why Snowe has taken to the streets. We can't blame her. She thinks there's a better chance of getting valuable intelligence through a chance meeting than a town hall hootenanny. The way public forums have played out in other states, it's a logical assertion. There is no guarantee they'd be different here.
While we are staunch advocates for meeting the public face-to-face, it's hard to pillory our delegation for deciding not to convene at town hall, in favor of smaller gatherings and Main Street walks. There is opportunity for real dialogue there, which has value.
This is a short-term courtesy, though. When the final legislation on health care reform finally comes forward for review, it will be essential for our congressional delegation to come before the Maine public and hear what they have to say. It's OK not to walk into bear traps now.
But they will have to face us, sooner or later
Advertisement
Displaying comments, from newest to oldest
People, wake up! Anyone who
People, wake up! Anyone who earns a living in this pathetic state of ours should realize that this is a very bad idea. Does voting Democrat give you a mental disorder? This is a serious question, not an insult... I think the answer is yes and you should all receive handicap tags for your automobiles. What part of paying through the nose for poor services is appealing? Do you really think that these people have your best interest in heart? Really, what part of Federal Health Care strikes a sense of confidence in you mind? Is it because you went to college for four years and bought into the crap your professors preached to you? Most of whom never had a real job to begin with. I really wish one of you super-smart democrats would answer that for me, so maybe I can join in on the party. And as far as Snowe Job and Collins, well the are Dems in disguise, Red Dog Republicans if you will. Only Maine would be dumb enough to vote for those fools. Sadly, more than once or maybe just to prove how ignorant we really are up here. Maybe if we're lucky the rest of the country will have bad roads, sub-par school systems and get to pay for all the crackheads at Seven- Eleven at three in the morning using their EBT cards to buy munchies and Coke for the kids. Wouldn't that be great, a nation as messed up as the Great State of Maine. Here's an idea, drug test the people on welfare and MaineCare, that way they stop getting high long enough to get a job. That alone will save more money than even Obama the Great can spend. This guy is a train-wreak and the really sad thing is we are the ones who will be left holding the tab. Anyone one that bothers to look would see that the real problem with healthcare is already the government. Well, that's enough out of me. If you don't get, you don't get it. The good news is all you little sheep will be protected by your wonderful Obama. Now thats the humor in my post.
verified Who needs to 'get it' - as
Who needs to 'get it' - as you say.
We got you; very early in your rant.
------------------------------------------
When I was a young Sailor - I drank like a Sailor, fought like a Sailor, and screwed like a Sailor. Now that I am old and wise - I have a few scars, but many fond memories.
The republicans and their
The republicans and their nimrod followers should have their total existence checked. I can't believe they graduated high school and college.Maybe if that nitwit Bush hadn't gotten us into Iraq we have the money for it.
verified If the "low lifes" don't
If the "low lifes" don't hold town halls, the terrorists will win!
______________________
Winston Churchill
Aside from the unfortunate
Aside from the unfortunate "low life" comment, exactly what are Olympia, Susan, Mike and Chellie afraid of?
Why won't they let their constituents -- ALL of their constituents, not just the "friendlies" who contributed to their campaigns or who frequent certain restaurants in homecourt advantage neighborhoods -- share their opinions in a public forum? Unless they just don't CARE to hear the opionis of ALL the people when claim to represent.
Clearly they do not want to take the heat or turn up on the network news looking like Arlen Specter or Barney Frank, (or Obama's trumped up NH town hall meeting) but they must remember, they represent ALL of us -- not just those who voted for them. Besides, it's healthy and often enlightening to hear the other side of an argument. What's wrong with that?
verified Our Congressional delegation
Our Congressional delegation does not seem to be afraid of anything, they just want to hear people's opinion not a bunch of loonies screaming at the top of their lungs. When you Republicans learn to behave like adults, we'll be able to have a serious discussion. Until then, this is the only way Sen Snowe can learn what people think, not what hannity and limbaugh think.
1. Not everyone who
1. Not everyone who expressed their opinion at the town hall meetings screamed at the top of their lungs. Those who did got on TV and YouTube. But I certainly don't think people in Maine who oppose the ridiculous scam being rushed through congress would behave like that.
2. Not everyone who opposes the great rush to spend trillions on another Obama hugely expensive, not-yet-figured-out-how-to-pay-for it boondoggle plan are Republicans. (Several polls show barely 43% of all Americans are in favor if it -- hardly a Republican-only quorum.
3. "You Republicans?" I am not a Republican.
4. Hannity and Limbaugh do not speak for me (and I'm sure others) any more than Al Sharpton anad Rachel Maddow speak for you. (I'll assume they do not and that you -- like me -- can form our own opinions based on a little bit of research and thought).
5. Our congressional delegation is clearly afraid of looking like fools by offering their constituents a town hall forum to discuss the issue and perhaps disagree with their faulty thinking. Do you prefer having your local officials make nation-altering policy by simply stopping in for a well-planned (oh, yes it was) photo opp in a trendy diner in the Dem stronghold of Portland (Snowe) or talking with only her campaign supporters (as Pingree admitted on air)?
Our elected leaders should offer an inclusive public forum to hear what ALL of their constituents have to say -- on this and other issues.
Nancy Pelosi did two weeks
Nancy Pelosi did two weeks ago, see for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGzAi4vZqYI
She also called health care critics "Un-American."
Of course, the Sun-Journal hasn't yet reported it (WSJ did).
Publicwerks I agree with you, these ARE serious issues. But the left needs to understand that those who disagree with them do not take lightly to being labeled Nazis, uninformed or un-American, just as the Dems disliked it when they were deemed as such when they protested in a very similar fashion (remember Cindy Sheehan and her band, anyone?) just a few short years ago.
verified Moving forward is not
Moving forward is not rushing, but calling for a vote on a (large) novel size bill just hours after is presented certainly is. It gives us the sense that the liberals in congress are trying to hide something. And as it unfolds and we are learning more about the proposed bill, it turns out they were.
No comprehensive health care
No comprehensive health care bill has been presented and voted on by the whole House or Senate...
verified Barney Frank said it best,
Barney Frank said it best, "On what planet do you spend most of your time?" She should have answered, "Outer Wingnuttia." The whackiest of the far right whackety whacks just can't seem to deal with reality. Civil discussion or debate is not in their dna. Bet not a single one of them can produce a REAL birth certificate!
______________________
Winston Churchill
Just trust Barney, and it
Just trust Barney, and it will all work out. Just like it worked out when he wanted law makers to trust him when he said, "These two entities -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- are not facing any kind of financial crisis,'' and now he expects people to trust him on some public option (or trying to disguise them now by calling them co opts) and the biggest takeover scam of all time. This same uncivil servant who yells, sneers, mocks and berates his own constituents!? The same liberal moonbat whose boy-toy ran a male prostitution ring out of the distinguished Massachusetts Congressman's D.C. apartment? Barney Frank is an embarrassment.
verified Not sure where you were last
Not sure where you were last November, but real Americans voted and real Americans were elected. The "people's majority" spoke loud and clear.
______________________
Winston Churchill
Is Lil suggesting that those
Is Lil suggesting that those who did not vote for Obama are not "real Americans" or that the Democratic healthcare takeover was on the November ballot? I don't recall seeing it on my ballot.
And I wouldn't exactly consider a 53% to 46% popular election victory a "loud and clear" mandate any more than the media proclaiming GW's 51% to 48% popular vote victory over John Kerry the "people's majority speaking loud and clear." Oh, wait ... they didn't. Because it wasn't.
verified Disagreeing is fine, being
Disagreeing is fine, being disagreeable isn't. That is something the far right loonies haven't figured out yet.
verified And of course calling people
And of course calling people names is not disagreeable at all.
... which is exactly who the
... which is exactly who the Dems compared George Bush and Dick Cheney to just a few short months ago. Funny how what was acceptable a year ago is now unacceptable. Where were the haughty protestations about name-calling back then?
Of course they did. And it
Of course they did. And it was as ugly and hyperbolic and inaccurate then as it is now.
The difference is when GW and Dick Cheney were on the receiving end no one in the mainstream media, including the S-J (and aside from Fox and conservative talk radio) reported it. Unlike now (when Obama is on the receiving end) those comments were ignored or given a free pass as "simple political discourse." Nancy Pelosi, John Murtha and others in the Dem leadership are leading this new ugly discourse as we speak.
"prepackaged spiels from
"prepackaged spiels from planted "citizens" or screeching from uninformed fear-mongers"?!
Yes, the Sun Journal editorial board is showing its true, liberal blue, colors once again. With no evidence of either "prepackaged spiels" or "planted 'citizens," (actually, the planted citizens at NH town hall meeting were planted DEM supporters) the Sun Journal follows the Huffington Post / MSNBC party line in an attempt to marginalize and mock those who do not kneel at the alter of the Democrat Party's push toward socialized medicine.
And the Sun Journal's "uninformed fear-monger" moniker was the icing on the cake. Way to go S-J. Your lack of objectivity -- and your irrelevance -- is spotlighted each and every day.
We are seen how well town
We are seen how well town hall meeting are going so the nuts can yell and stomp feet like a school rally olympia snow great job great listener
verified I agree, when you walk you
I agree, when you walk you can pick those places that will get you the most positive feedback. You don't know who will show up at a town hall meeting. Heaven forbid that someone who disagrees with you does.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Most Popular Today
verified on "J. Ziehm: LePage forgetting his childhood"
Ernest, No I don't have
Ernest,
No I don't have family that can help me. In fact not only am I raising my own children but I am also taking care of an ill parent. My son is special needs and there are no day cares that will take him with his needs so I have multiple barriers. I have tried to work and lost jobs because I was constantly called by the schools to get my son or to go to take care of a situation with him. Employers are not going to work with a person that needs constant time off to go to medical appointments with a child when there is such high unemployment and many people competing for the same jobs. If I could, I would work, but finding child care is impossible and finding a job that will work around the situation I am in has been impossible to date but I haven't given up.
verified on "P. Nachman: Confidence probably misplaced"
First do...
First do.....?
You've got to do things simultaneously. We are capable of 'multi-tasking, I believe.
Old proverb - "Pray to God, but keep rowing to shore."
verified on "Local schools stand to get more state money for education"
Youre half correct here.
Youre half correct here. Public Schools are a reason private schools thrive. But the private schools in Maine are hurting right now. Not because of the curriculum or the performance (they outperform public education by miles) but because of the economy. St. Doms will accept almost anyone, probably even avowed athiests if they have the $$. This is sad.
I do know there are Christian Schools that are top-level adacemically that are not at all expensive, and the best part is that they still hold the students and parents to the mission statement of a true Christian School. That involves active parental involvement and family-centered Christ-centered living (notice not "God" as that can mean anything to anybody). But this is one reason when combined with the economy that they are hurting right now. The only upside is that the student to teacher ratio is extremely good. No public school can tough the Christian Academies in this area, and the tuition is surprisingly low.
Hebron Academy and St. Doms are just flat out expensive... too expensive for all but the financially cozy...
In order to make comments, you must verify your account.
In order to comment on SunJournal.com, you must use your real name and include the town in which you live in your profile. A member of our staff will call you to verify this information. To join in, fill out your user profile completely and check the box "please verify my status." We'll get back to you within one business day to verify your account.
Login or create an account here.
Our policy prohibits comments that are:
- Defamatory, abusive, obscene, racist, or otherwise hateful
- Excessively foul and/or vulgar
- Inappropriately sexual
- Baseless personal attacks or otherwise threatening
- Contain illegal material, or material that infringes on the rights of others
- Commercial postings attempting to sell a product/item
If you violate this policy, your comment will be removed and your account may be banned.