by William Falcone

Created on: August 30, 2009

The special interests have run a pre-emptive strike that has successfully derailed the Democrats Health care initiative.

Obviously the health care industry is the money machine behind the Right's counter-initiative to defeat any upcoming legislation. They cleverly utilize the "mainstream media" headed by FOX (but also have much influence over the top three networks and the other major cable news networks.) The big lobbying interests know that sensationalism sells. They are masters at getting the news media to cover the staged town hall events-with all the screaming and carrying on. This is portrayed as some type of "grass roots" anger. But what is actually occurring is anything but "grass roots." FOX has the Glenn Beck's of the world who will happily do the dirty work of rallying the masses up into a frenetic state of anger at the government bogeyman.

Government is the easy target. It is large. It is bureaucratic. It lurks in the shadows-waiting to steal our individual freedoms! But what is never mentioned is that the private insurance industry is what the Right Wing propaganda machine says about the government. Big business is totally driven by the profit motive. Government is not. And there lies the essential difference and what is left out of the argument. The false portrayal of government as the enemy of the little guy is simply not true. The enemy is big business and its total emphasis on profits as what drives their engine. What is good for the people is only a side item of their agenda.

The special interest of big business and its minions is what has,up to this point, dominated the news,and hence,the debate. There are groups headed by the old "usual suspects" such as Dick Armey (see Freedomworks) and another known as Conservatives for Patient's Rights (headed by a former associate of Jack Abramoff.) Conservatives for Patient's Rights ? I think a more appropriate name might be Conservatives for Blue Cross's Rights.

So what we have are several components that have brewed a perfect storm of special interest dominance: a naive "base" of right wing populist supporters, talking media heads on FOX TV and AM radio, and money...lots and lots of money. This is a dangerous brew that does not mind trampling on the rights of our fragile democracy. They will yell and scream. They will fight if provoked. They will ruin all intent of meaningful or thoughtful debate. The tactic has worked and Liberals have suffered a preemptive strike that they were totally unprepared to fight.

Is it too late to derail all the false propaganda of the government bogeyman coming to socialize our country and kill Grandma ? Perhaps it is. This wild bunch on the Right is organized. They are vocal and,of course, they have money to support their cause. My guess is that any "reform" will be so watered down that the Democrats might as well try for a universal plan (knowing that it will fail) but to plant a seed for some future society. Hopefully my grandkids will have the basic human right to health care.

Learn more about this author, William Falcone.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.