How, or whether, our federal government reforms health care in America is one of the most important and complex discussions of our time. Those decisions deserve thoughtful, informed and civilized debate.
Much has been made in recent days about the decorum at congressional town hall meetings around the nation regarding health care reform. Most of the attention has focused on audience members who are opposed to the proposals of the president and Democrats. Some of them have been loud, disruptive, sometimes unruly. Some of them have been accused of being plants for special interests aiming to block any changes to the current system.
The actions of those opposed to health care reform proposals are not un-American, as some Democratic leaders have claimed. "Un-American" is a loaded and dangerous word that, unfortunately, has been thrown around far too frequently and easily from all corners of recent political fights. For better or worse, it is American to question authority and to protest.
But at times the actions of the "opposition" during public sessions about health care have been unproductive in advancing the debate. Shouting, booing and intimidating does nothing to contribute to a thoughtful, informed and civilized debate. Neither does discounting the opinions of the "opposition," which both sides on this issue have tended to do.
Locally, there are a couple of opportunities upcoming for a more civilized discussion about health care reform. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, is having four telephone town halls next week - two on Monday and two on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the opportunities for interaction between the audience and the elected officials - or between audience members themselves, for that matter - are virtually non-existent in such a format.
But on Aug. 25, Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, will be in the conference room of Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County in Darlington for a listening session. It will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Rep. Kind will be face-to-face with constituents. Hopefully, local residents will reward his efforts by engaging in a civilized, thoughtful and challenging discussion - whether they agree with his viewpoints or not.
Much has been made in recent days about the decorum at congressional town hall meetings around the nation regarding health care reform. Most of the attention has focused on audience members who are opposed to the proposals of the president and Democrats. Some of them have been loud, disruptive, sometimes unruly. Some of them have been accused of being plants for special interests aiming to block any changes to the current system.
The actions of those opposed to health care reform proposals are not un-American, as some Democratic leaders have claimed. "Un-American" is a loaded and dangerous word that, unfortunately, has been thrown around far too frequently and easily from all corners of recent political fights. For better or worse, it is American to question authority and to protest.
But at times the actions of the "opposition" during public sessions about health care have been unproductive in advancing the debate. Shouting, booing and intimidating does nothing to contribute to a thoughtful, informed and civilized debate. Neither does discounting the opinions of the "opposition," which both sides on this issue have tended to do.
Locally, there are a couple of opportunities upcoming for a more civilized discussion about health care reform. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, is having four telephone town halls next week - two on Monday and two on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the opportunities for interaction between the audience and the elected officials - or between audience members themselves, for that matter - are virtually non-existent in such a format.
But on Aug. 25, Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, will be in the conference room of Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County in Darlington for a listening session. It will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Rep. Kind will be face-to-face with constituents. Hopefully, local residents will reward his efforts by engaging in a civilized, thoughtful and challenging discussion - whether they agree with his viewpoints or not.
