Health Care Debate Triggers Mass ConfusionRandy Shawbyline‚ Nov. 03‚ 2009As the health care debate dominates President Obama’s first year, polls show that most Americans are confused. This is not surprising. Unlike other fiercely fought national issues – the Iraq invasion, tax policies, abortion rights – health care does not even have people with similar ideologies on the same page. Clearly, reforming the U.S. health care system is extraordinarily complex, and only experts in the field could be expected to understand all of the details. But the confusion in this case involves core provisions, and is heavily attributable to two factors. First, the media demands ongoing “breaking news” on the health care debate, so it runs with reports that are unsourced and/or untrue. Second, when some Senators and Congress members freely spout false and ridiculous claims – such as Joe Lieberman’s assertion on Sunday’s Face the Nation that the government has not previously operated a health care system – the media remains silent. |