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THAT'S THE SECRET
Have you read AlterNet's demonization of Dobbs? Of course, he should have done his own research, rather than trusting that of others. But what makes him a candidate to be hung among the great is that the moment he realized he had made a mistake, he immediately and publicly assumed the responsibility. In doing so, he laid out the argument for single-payer so succinctly vividly and dramatically that instead of picking holes, we should be repeating it publicly. Who are these naysayers?
I started out to discuss this power you are afraid we are losing. I had another item in mind. Maybe, because the stores are already full of reindeer and other suggestions. This one you don't have to worry about losing. Attach it to all your gifts. Better yet, just give it: It will return. Everyone professes to know this, but show me a community doing it? Someone has to do it and someone has to be first, because friends are the only safety we have.
Irv is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. The way he tells it, he gave up on making money and retired from work at age 35. He's a writer, and a good one, but he couldn't sell his books. The way he tells it, he got mad. And one day he took a brown paper bag full of his books, picked a spot on a busy street and started handing books to people walking past. They would walk on and shortly come back to pay for it. Or to return it. He wouldn't take it back and had some a arguments when they tried to pay him. And he hit the jackpot: People began sending him checks. A blog friend asked for a book and sent Irv $100 for it. The more Irv gave away, the more he got back.
AND THAT'S THE SECRET.
Stopping wars too is easy, so easy. Here's a formula: Never ask another country to do something yours doesn't intend to do. If one nation asks another to stop building bombs, the asking nation has to start the thing rolling. The U.S. has more bombs than all the other nations added together: They could easily start this ball rolling and in perfect safety. Instead, U.S leaders are demanding that another nation give up making a bomb, while continuing to add to its own killing power. If you were that little country, impoverished while the U.S. has the biggest share and argues that it has to be that way because it is scattering democracy, what would you say. However it's plain to see this big one hasn't any. But see all those folks walking the streets because they haven't homes. How can that be true, when they have all that democracy to give away?
There's another word for it: would you prefer the word "justice." Every nation and their leaders know that word, too. But look around. The vintage point doesn't matter. The view from wherever you are will look is the same as any other. You can start anywhere. And if you are looking for "justice" you'll draw a blank. But we ought to thank Lou Dobbs for telling the truth no matter where it lay.
He made a terrible mistake in arguing against single-payer medical plans. Then he did some research on his own, and made an abrupt about face. When he went on the air he shared his mistake with the millions who watch and listen to his TV and radio programs. What does Jesus say about mistakes? I watched this program with my respect for Lou Dobbs climbing. I have seen plenty of TV hosts trying to cover mistakes, but this is my first experience with one who had no concern for himself, only worried over the harm his information might do others. Hence our luck. Would we turn down single-payer love-in over the air?
There are still a lot of people who don't use the web and we need to make sure everyone sees or hears about this, so we should ask Dobbs to join us. I am not sure how many radio shows he does a week, but I intend to find out right now. We don't need enemies, even in the past or past perfect. And we can use all the TV performers eager to give air- time for single-payer we can get.
As for his stance that we don't need to offer illegal immigrants care. To offer them what we don't have ourselves is ridiculous. I would agree to giving it as soon as all the citizens are fully covered and the funding allows it, but I am not going hungry so they can eat. As an active journalist, expertise environment, for 75 years, I know he is right on that. And there's a way to prove it. I suggest that your daughter has a tumor on her brain. If it's cared for now, it's easily operable. But your daughter is standing in a line behind two illegals. If she has too wait on them it will probably be too late. Are you still willing to take care of these illegal aliens first? If your daughter's tumors are operable, if she can get them x-rayed now, but not tomorrow, what would you say?
That is the truth for millions of voters. Also, if you crawl over the line into France, they can call you whatever you like, but you will be detained--will you get medical care meanwhile. Ask them. And while you are, ask citizens if they are eager to give up their medical single-payer medical insurance.
