Thursday, August 13, 2009

'Boots on the Ground' for Health Care

As promised, I went to my Congressperson's office yesterday and told them that I am in favor of health care reform, including a "public option." Strangely, the experience of being "on the record" about health care reform made me less enthusiastic, rather than more so. I can't really explain why, but the whole experience was pretty underwhelming. I even consented to be videotaped with my reasons why I'm in favor of health care reform, but I really don't think that video will be seen by anybody. Maybe I'm a pessimist, but I don't think that what I did will have that big of an impact.

Maybe I'm an idealistic pessimist -- a strange combination, but it explains a lot about me. Anyway, I still believe in health care reform, but I'm less die-hard than I was just a few days ago. There are many good ideas about how to improve the lives of Americans, and health care reform is a big, good idea. I just see it now getting bogged down in the nitty gritty of legislative work, and the campaign-style events the President is hosting are inspiring, but they leave a little of the hard work still to be done. My inner policy wonk is now saying, what about the details?

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