Civility and Tolerance

OK, Congressman Wilson was disrespectful and, likely, a bit stupid. He gave the Dems a foot up on another way to distract from the real issues. He shouldn't have yelled out "...lying." The office, if not the man, deserves respect.

But, again, we have lost focus. BO was being, at the least, evasive and disingenuous. Much of the health care bill is vague, the details to be worked out once a "health commissioner" is appointed by the Pres. This new "czar" (and a great word to use in light of its history and our American values, isn't it?) will then set policy concerning what and who are covered, what costs are acceptable, etc. People will be fined for not having health insurance. It's done in Massachusetts right now, from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars a year. People shouldn't be fined for choices that they make. (Perhaps we could fine Congressmen, Senators, and other elected officials who have no brains????)

So, there is an uproar over Wilson, but....

Where were the outrage, uproar, calls for censure, etc. when similar things were said about Bush? (And, remember, I am not at all a fan of W--he was a lousy President!) Ah, selective "outrage, uproar...." I get it. And where is the discussion over the lies, er, disinformation and deception BO had in his speech? Oh, lying, er, deceiving the US citizenry isn't as important as propriety and civility. I get it.

It reminds me of a prim and proper counselor I worked with for years and years. No matter how stupid, how dishonest, how incompetent administration was (and it was a lot of each!), there was no place, according to this guy, for criticism (of course, except behind people's backs). For instance, in a meeting with a recalcitrant student, his parents and teachers, the counselor, and the good-for-nothing assistant principal, she said, "I know this is the sixth contract you've been on, but this time I really mean it!" I guffawed, just roared, laughing in the ass't prin's face--consider what I just wrote. And this wasn't acceptable to this guy, who actually kicked me or my chair (I forgot which), until I gave him an evil eye to back off or else....

So, let's be nice to each other, even when the stakes are high and the means/methods are dishonest.