FEATURED JOBS
Comments (1)Story By Joseph Velisek
With the latest mutation of the lunatic fringe—after the Tea Partiers and Birthers now monopolizing our news space—I thought I’d do some investigative reporting into whom the Town Hall Turfers represent and speak for. As of right now, the answer is no one I know or anyone I’ve talked to in the last 10 days. My data may not be significant, but my collection of it is as scientific as the news channels is.
The Turfer phenomenon, in case you’ve missed it, is fairly consistent nationwide although it’s being described as spontaneous and unscripted. During town hall meetings, usually with congressmen and women attempting to explain health care reform or answering questions from citizens on the subject, outbursts occur. Not discussions or even protests, just incoherent yelling and a lot of poorly drawn home-made signs. Once the Turfer gains the attention of the room, he or she increases volume and becomes very repetitious, i.e., think of a very tired four-year-old arguing about bedtime.
It is being insinuated that this is all part of a right-wing conspiracy, so I contacted all the Republicans/conservatives I know and every single one of them expressed the same opinion—some in more colorful language than others—that the Turfers were at best dupes and probably shills for the Insurance/Pharmaceutical/Hospital companies, they were a little scary in a Crazy Uncle Charlie sort of way and that by Labor Day we’d have forgotten about them.
The irony, of course, being that all the Democrats and Independents I know think the same thing. The other consistent opinion across the political spectrum is that Rush Limbaugh, Lou Dobbs, Sarah Palin, Michael Steele and Michele Malkin—all of whom want to make health care reform a struggle between good and evil—speak for no one I know, mainly because my sampling doesn’t listen to any of them. My sampling included folks who voted for McCain, watch Fox, and read the Wall Street Journal.
The conspiracy that was mentioned by several of those I questioned—only somewhat tongue in cheek—was whether the cable news channels were paying folks to spout off in front of the cameras. We’ve had a shocking news lull here in August and Turfers do make for good reality TV, but maybe that’s too cynical.
The inside scoop is that this Turfer phenomenon has all ready been tied to big health care industry money, starting with the insurance providers. So this isn’t a Republican vs. Democratic issue or even a conservative vs. liberal one. This is a big corporate profits issue. These service providers believe their bottom lines may be threatened by reform—rightfully so—and are pulling out all the stops to prevent that reform from happening. Just delaying the inevitable is worth millions in their pockets. Tactics include intimidation, scaring the public, making stuff up and spending $1.5 million dollars a day just on lobbyists.
If you see or hear a member of Congress vehemently opposing reform, be them Blue Dog, Democrat or Republican—check the source of their political contributions for Insurance/Pharma/Hospital companies and gauge their alarm/concern accordingly. If this was simply a business regulatory issue the tactics could be overlooked, but considering we’re talking about life and death here such manipulation is appalling.
I understand the Turfers’ anger; I even understand its source but let’s focus on the right target here. Over the last 10 years or so most industries have strived for and achieved enhanced customer service and improved customer satisfaction (There are a few exceptions that will remain nameless until the next time I fly).
Insurance companies have bucked that positive trend with billing, customer service/assistance, and applications becoming ridiculously difficult and cumbersome while the reimbursement process has gone from arbitrarily defined to clandestine. Of course they don’t want health care reform with all the scrutiny and accountability that goes with it—including executive pay packages.
Congress has taken a break from wrestling with this difficult issue, so I’m suggesting we do the same and enjoy the next several weeks of summer. Let the Turfers overheat themselves and let cable news cover it. Hopefully, when Congress returns so will common sense, reality and a little civility and we can deal with health care and its reform in a rational manner.
