While Iranians battle for democracy in the streets and Hondurans try to hold back a wannabe Chavez, here in the US of A we’re going to have a “teaching moment” on race that I can’t believe anybody wants other than, perhaps, Barack Obama, Henry Lewis Gates and some pathetic nostalgics in the media who still think it’s 1972. Cambridge policeman Sgt. James Crowley – the furthest thing from a racist according to his African-American cop peers – is the poor sap forced into this beer drinking photo op. [Did they invite Reverend Wright?-ed. He's a hard liquor guy.]
Of course the only thing this event can do is foment racism by stirring a relatively quiescent pot in a completely unnecessary manner. In that way it’s reactionary. But then it’s a “teaching moment.” The very concept has a reactionary tinge, especially when used to preserve an old-fashioned view of an already changed reality.
Of course, the squares at CNN see it differently. They evidently think we do have a big race problem in this country: Will White House beer help nation chill on race?
Yawn. Meanwhile, in the real world, the healthcare debate continues behind closed doors. No “teaching moments” or beer there, although we do learn that some, not all, Blue Dog Democrats have made a deal via Henry Waxman and are backing another as yet unseen healthcare bill with an allegedly lower cost. Other than that, we learn very little of what was said or what promises were made, what hospitals or clinics might be built in what Blue Dog’s district. Or perhaps that’s left unsaid and just understood.
Frankly, as of now, I am more impressed with the Dutch healthcare system, which is detailed on Pajamas Media by Leon Eijsman and Leon De Winter with an interview with De Winter here on PJTV (“Going Dutch”). It’s a third way that might have some merit, if someone will stop to think about some of this. Call it a “teaching moment.”
Health care teaching moments is what the tea parties are made of, and the rambunctious pupil is in the white house, but he is too proud to learn, and he will flunk the Ocober exam, because by that time affirmative action will have been recognized for the fraud it is, and there won’t be any bailout juice left in the proverbial tank.
The cop was “forced”? Proof?
Well, Crowley could hardly turn down the invitation without looking graceless or churlish.
One hopes when interviewed after, he says something like, “The President and Professor Gates were very gracious, and I am grateful and honored to have been invited. I hope they can both use this incident as an occasion to examine their assumptions about race. Thank you.”
I only wish Barbara Boxer could have been invited, too.
@ #2, shzz.
Had he been invited, Joe Wurzelbacher could have excused himself, because his job does not hang at the bottom of a long chain of command. For Sgt. Crowley, it’s different: He is pinched at the bottom of a huge pile of cover-your-ass artists, going all the way to the top, literally! He is not really at liberty to refuse, regardless of how much he would understandably prefer to.
His only consolation is the knowledge that he really does not have anyone to apologize to, contrary to the other two, who have already admitted their guilt by setting up the bribe-by-suds gambit.
If you think my proof is not good enough, go ahead, counter-prove to your heart’s contempt!
Roger, I agree the teachable moment should be in healthcare reform rather than the preservation of race victimhood in America via this nonsense at the White House.
Still, while I’ve read PJM’s piece on the Dutch model twice now, I remain unimpressed. It sounds pretty good—relative to what’s on the table— but it also sounds like a Ponzi scheme which is way to early in the game to judge realistically.
We’ve got to find a reasonable way to leave completely private options (85%) in the system while allowing the 5-10% of citizens who can’t or won’t buy private insurance a public option. We need to insist on tort reform and be able to buy insurance with high deductibles.
If, God forbid, this bill to nationalize healthcare gets passed, I can honestly say there will be rebellion, and maybe even revolution in our country. Black markets for health care here or off-shore for anyone who can afford itand can avail themselves of will be created. It’s not going to fly, it’s just not.
We need to keep looking for creative solutions for health care and insurance accessability without bring down and politicizing the entire system.
Voiceover: “This week’s health care teachable moment has been brought to you by Rasmussen, Gallup and NBC/WSJ.”
The president expressed his dismay that the “media” was making a big deal out of this meeting, which was a truly jaw dropping thing to say given his role in this.
The faster the administration tries to “change the world”, the faster the poll numbers plunge. Not sure if the lesson will be learned.
“…and be able to buy insurance with high deductibles.”
This is regrettably illegal in every state. Insurance companies are prohibited from creating policies to satisfy the specific desires of their prospective customers. Government officials always have the final say. They invariably include mandates which add to the final cost.
“…the squares at CNN …: Will White House beer help nation chill on race?”
No, no, what they really are saying, is ‘Will White House beer help those nasty right-wingers (~`75% of Americans on this) chill the #@$@ out and stop picking on our boy Barack; he’s had a tough month you know, so stop it, stop it, stop it, STOP IT.’
The very notion that government will dictate what medical care I may or may not receive, and which doctor or specialist I may or may not see, and how many other people’s health care my income will be confiscated to pay for — the very notion is nothing less than a totalitarian declaration that my life and the fruits of my labor belong, not to me, but to the government, who may dispose of it as it sees fit, to fulfill any of its alleged “needs” or to satisfy any of its alleged “goals”.
If government can do this to us, it can do anything to us, and we are nothing but a collection of rightless creatures doomed to be looted by whatever power-luster can convince the non-tax–paying majority to vote him into office.
Crowley could have, and should have, reacted to the invitation as follows:
“I’ve done nothing wrong here. If the President wishes to retract his claim that I acted “stupidly”, he should do so publicly. If Mr. Gates wishes to apologize for the behavior that got him arrested, he should also do so publicly. After those things happen, I’ll be happy to have a beer with the two of them.”
Teaching moment! Here’s what I learned from Gatesgate and the Beer Summit: President Obama has only one approach to resolving conflicts and it applies to everything from foreign policy initiatives to the absurd embarrassment to our country that was the Beer Summit. He is remarkably consistent.
He comes into them with pre-conceived, ill-informed notions about who is responsible for the problem. He begins by insulting one party, while pandering shamelessly to the other. Then he brings everyone together for a conference that accomplishes absolutely nothing – except another photo-op. And he then finishes it all off by taking credit for any results, real or imagined.
David, it’s simply not true. I have such a high-deductible policy and it save me money and keeps me responsible for negotiating medical bills up front. Have saved thousands of dollars over the years.
Yes, there is a teachable moment. And that is public discussion of the fact that criminality rates for black men are way out of proportion to their numbers in the population.
You should be allowed to buy health insurance across state lines. A familly policy in New York costs about $12,000, in Wisconson, it’s about $5000 (per year). And is it because the state politicians are dictating what the policies must cover.
“I have such a high-deductible policy and it save me money and keeps me responsible for negotiating medical bills up front.”
Nope, I know exactly what I’m talking about. There is a good possibility that your annual bill should have cost half of what you paid. Each and every state adds mandates to the policies sold within its borders. You are forced to pay for this stuff whether you like it or not.
Here is what I don’t understand– the Democrats think that it is utterly horrible for the government to tell a woman that she can’t have an abortion. But for the government to tell that same woman that she can’t have a hip replacement– no problem. How does this make any sense?
Roger,
“Foment racism?” This incident has finally brought into clear view a racist current that unites much of the black community and our ruling elite. It is the elephant in the room. How can you sympathetically dismiss this as nostalgia? Yes, it is nostalgia. It is the same sort that Trent Lott feels for Strom Thurmond, except you share this nostalgia.
I love this blog dearly, but you are way off the mark in your comments about Gatesgate. Isn’t it time that those who embrace such bigotry are made to answer for it, much as Lott was forced to do? We will never be a post-racial society until bigotry from all quarters is extinguished. Bigotry will never be extinguished by turning a blind eye to it.
Neobuzz
Roger,
The phrase itself, “teachable moment,” disgusts me. It’s presuppositions drip with arrogangce–first that the alleged teacher has something to teach; second that now is the moment; third, that the student needs said tutoring.
As an American adult, I choose my teachers based on experience and trust. The rest of you teachable moment propagandists can go to hell.
David, there are some mandates that are applicable to some states…however, my high-deductible policy exists and your dogmatic response tells me you simply don’t know what you’re talking about in this case. I’ve just spent 30 minutes with my insurance agent and believe me, I have a very high deductible and it keeps my costs very low.
There is no further reason to debate this, no matter what you may say.