Is There a Doctor in the House? The press is running this country right now. They decide who will win and who will lose from the start, and they have been at it for years. Only now it's getting dangerous because they are being ever-so-secretly manipulated by the right wing.
by Becky Burgwin
I'm only asking because I think the citizens of our country need to have their collective heads examined. People are actually buying the fact that an excited, rousing speech by Howard Dean to a roomful of 3500 young people who came from ALL OVER THE WORLD, has ruined the run of the candidate who has broken all the records on fund-raising and grass roots organizing held by any democrat in this country's history. Forget about the fact that he was smiling the whole time and that the unedited version shows you can barely hear him over the screams of the crowd.
The press has decided Dean's angry and, by-gum, that's just the way it is. Since day one they haven't liked this guy and I know exactly why. HE'S A DOCTOR and let me tell you, they're impossible. You see, I live with one and I can totally empathize. They're stubborn as all get out, for one thing. They just don't give a damn what anyone thinks of them. They do things their way and that's the end of it. Now, as I know, but the press doesn't, this is a quality they absolutely must have to be any good at their chosen profession. Who wants their doctor to be saying something like, "Well Mr. Smith, I think you might need a bone-marrow transplant but you know, I'm just not sure. What do you think? I mean you'll have to be in the hospital for a month and you can't see your family unless they're in space suits, so, if you don't want to have one well, you know, we can call Dr. Jones over at the hospital and see what he thinks?" Not going to work. Doctors have to be sure of themselves. They make decisions every day that affect peoples lives, the lives of their children and they have about 2 minutes in which to do it. Yes, sometimes that translates into bull-headedness, especially if you have to live with them (don't tell my husband I said that), but that's just the way it is. "Honey, I don't think that's such a good idea." Forget it. So you know the press is going to hate this guy. For one, he doesn't cower to their criticisms. He doesn't admit he's made a mistake if he doesn't think he has. He wears cheap suits and rolled up shirt sleeves. Nooo. The press doesn't like this one little bit. That's why all of the successful politicians know precisely how to look, walk and sound. They must learn the art of sounding like they're answering the questions when they're not"dressing just so"never raise your voice"MAKE NO WAVES. The press might be watching. No real opinions, because you might piss someone off. And if you want to be seen as "ELECTABLE", you better not piss anyone off"especially the press.
Another thing about doctors, they must be given irrefutable proof that something is different than they think it is. Here's the thing. They think they know everything. Well, they kind of do because they've been going to school for about 30 years. But who wants his or her doctor to say, "Well, I think a lowered white count means that you're neutropenic, Mr. Brown, but I'm not exactly sure. I'm pretty sure that's dangerous but let me go look at my text book for a second, I'll be right back." No. Doctors have to know everything. And what they don't know they have to learn"IN THEIR SPARE TIME.
Soooo, another thing they have to be is insomniacs. They not only have to know everything they learned in med school, they have to be up on all the new drugs, new procedures, discoveries, treatments. Since they work about 80 hours a week, when do you think they're going to have time to do that? All night, of course. If you need at least 8 hours of sleep like I do, you can forget about being a doctor. You can ask any doctor and they'll tell you that since childhood they've been under the covers with a flashlight reading, or listening to west coast baseball games because they can't sleep.
Here's the real kicker, DOCTOR'S CAN GET SUED FOR ANYTHING. I am serious. The doctor doesn't even have to be within a mile of the thing when it happens. He can still get sued. A lab technician picks out the wrong blood type, the nurse gives it to the patient"the doctor gets sued. He can be home asleep, but if he was the hematologist on call that night, he gets sued. So doctors are very precise"very detail oriented"and very cynical. They work their asses off and people are just waiting for them to screw up so they can get that new above ground pool they've always wanted. They have to know how to read people, so they don't say or do the wrong thing to the wrong patient because any little thing can become a matter for the attorneys, if they're not careful. People fault them for doing so many tests, but if you tell Mrs. Green that she can go home from her routine gall bladder operation and she happens to be getting the flu which she got from her grandson, the minute she starts to feel dizzy or short of breath, you better hope you did the blood work or the chest x-ray that would have told you this before she left because she'll drive by that billboard where the attorney has his finger pointed out saying, "No payment to us, until we get money for you."
OK, the reason I'm saying all of this is that these are the qualities that have made Howard Dean such a good governor and are going to make him such a good president. No ordinary politician would have gone through what he went through when he signed the civil unions bill. Does anybody know that he wore a flak jacket everyday during that period in his career? He's fearless. Doctors have to be. He is absolutely sure of himself so that when he decides to do something, he does it. Even if it takes 6 years to get it right like his healthcare plan that covers 99% of the citizens of his state. He's also smarter than most politicians, which I think is evident during the debates. Has anybody noticed how he actually answers the question? Very bad form for a politician.
But it's his stubbornness that makes him so effective. He never gives up. Doctors don't have that luxury, unless the patient asks them to. "Gee, sorry Mrs. Fine. Just don't think I have anything else that can help you with that depression of yours. The anti-depressant didn't work. You take care now."
But these are also the reasons that he's running into trouble in his campaign. Doctors just aren't very good at toeing the line. They're pretty used to having the last word. Man, that would be a great quality to have in a president, don't you think? But no. Unfortunately, our illustrious press corps doesn't quite see it that way. Wait, he's not kissing my ass. Hmm. This guy doesn't play by the rules. Let's get him. HHe's quick witted and doesn't back down. Oh golly. Can't have those qualities in our president. Better get this guy out of the picture STAT. (a little doctor terminology there.)
He's not afraid to speak his mind. For example, he sees two reporters fighting and he's caught on camera telling them to "grow up" or some such abomination. A republican heckler goes on and on until he finally says, "Sit down. You've had your turn. Now it's my turn." Great. Got that on tape. Yea, this guy's definitely angry. And from then on, that's all they see. Anger. It's called projection. Whatever pre-conceived notion the reporter brings to the story, will be what the reporter sees. Actually, I'm being kind because I really think that the press has decided that it is in charge of who makes it and who doesn't"not the voters.
The press is running this country right now. They decide who will win and who will lose from the start, and they have been at it for years. Only now it's getting dangerous because they are being ever-so-secretly manipulated by the right wing. Hence, Al Gore is too stiff, but Howard Dean is too enthusiastic. Bush and Cheney, however, can stand up right in front of the entire world and lie every time they open their mouths"everyone knows they're lying but no one says a word. God, it's so spooky. So, they're going to bring Dean down. He won't obey the unwritten law. "You can lie to your heart's content but when you start telling the truth, you're toast." And if and when they do, we can all just throw in the towel because even the greatest grass roots organization in the history of the country, inspired by a man who since his Iowa gaffe four days ago has raised the same amount of money as Kerry and Edwards combined, can't get a candidate elected if the press says no. Am I the only person who finds this extremely scary?
Ms. Burgwin's writing has appeared in Newsweek, Time, New York Magazine, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Tribune Review as well as several online Op Ed sites. She is also involved in gay rights, women's issues and the environment. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family.
