Letter: Hyperbole in health care debate

The health care debate rattling around this country has produced a wealth of propaganda, misinformation, fear-mongering and general craziness. From Sarah Palin’s “death panels” to Nancy Pelosi referring to private insurance companies as “villains,” both sides are guilty of extreme hyperbole.

As usual, Jon Stewart best put the issue in perspective when he said, “Conservatives scream so loud against Obama’s health care reform that they drown out the Democrats’ incoherence.”

In this important debate, the volume has been cranked up too loud by all involved. As a result, logic, reason and voices of moderation are being shouted down or silenced altogether.

Sadly, given the divisive political climate in this country, honest debate and cooperation between our two dysfunctional political parties in finding the best solution to this complex issue may never occur, especially when both sides are selling extra-strength snake oil to their sheep in an effort to inflame passions and “rally the base.”

One remedy for this aliment would be for all citizens to get their news and information from a wide array of sources. Although much of the mainstream news (especially cable TV news) has become little more than shills of the Democrats or Republicans, there are some quality, non-partisan sources (hard to fathom, I know) that help monitor the truthfulness, or lack-thereof, of the diseased cough of rhetoric emitting from all parties involved.

Far too often, opinion becomes fact, mostly through repeated voicing from talking heads.  Both Democrats and Republicans claim a monopoly on the truth, but, as Einstein said, “Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of truth and knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods.”

Jason O’Neal Griggs
Dothan