Bobby Jindal was on yesterday. He’s a failed organism, politically speaking,
but that doesn’t stop him from getting booked and getting his talking points
out there. Other media report on his
appearances, blandly repeating the talking points. That’s what they are for, the talking points,
they are intended to shape the dialog and move public opinion in a certain
direction. Unfortunately for the country
in general, and for most of us in particular, guys like Bobby Jindal are very
good at what they do.
Most unfortunately of all, many of the talking points are
outright lies, and the moderators of these shows almost never call the talkers
on it. Moderators! Another cruel euphemism. Facilitators is more like it.
Who’s in charge of “Meet the Press” these days, is his name
David Gregory? Did I get that
right? Would that we could buy back our
introductions to the likes of him. He sat there nodding his head respectfully
while Bobby Jindal let go a whopper.
The Lie:
“Health insurance rates are going through the roof all over
America because of Obamacare,” said Mr. Jindal with a disarming, crooked
smile.
It is possible that some researchers in a think tank
somewhere discovered places where this has happened. I don’t do research, I wouldn’t know. It is also true, however, that in most places
the rates have gone down, and things in general have gotten much better for
most Americans. So the quote, as
delivered, is a bald faced lie. A
talking point, crafted to induce people to believe that the Affordable Care Act
is bad for them, bad for their families, and bad for the country. Which is not true. It’s not perfect, not by a long shot, but it’s
a small step in the direction of addressing a real problem.
Anybody out there drinking the Kool Aid? Anybody buying the lie that America has the
best health care system in the world? Loving
that freedom to choose your own doctor and your own care? Obviously you don’t have a child with
Muscular Dystrophy; obviously you haven’t come down with some terrible malady
soon after losing a job.
But “Meet the Press.”
The only question is: do they know that they are working for the
opposition? Or are they just stumbling
along trying to sell advertising? Are they
in on the joke? The negative effects of
their failure to engage on the issues are much less ambiguous. Lots of people think that they are watching a
genuine political discussion, and many of them will believe Mr. Jindal and
repeat what he said. That’s what talking
points do.
Bobby Jindal is, unfortunately, a lucid and articulate
man. This is unfortunate, because the
vision that he lucidly articulates is Satanic.
It is based on lies that are carefully crafted to create benefit for a
very few people at the expense of the vast majority.
Luckily, not all of these guys are as talented as Bobby
Jindal. After all, Pat Buchanan is still
making the rounds. Talk about a failed
political organism. Obviously, these
people will flog any dead horse that they think will help them convince people
to go against their own best interests.
Another example of the failure of lucidity was also on “Meet
the Press” last night, David Brooks. It
is a mystery to me why anyone would care what he has to say on any
subject. He doesn't seem to care very much himself, it's a pretty vague web that he spins. He has the values of a loan shark, and the
gall of a burglar, all in a faux academic package and wrapped in a Brooks
Brothers suit.
Oh, that there could be an actual discussion! Oh, that we could have a health care system
as wonderful as the one that is working so well in Taiwan, even as we
speak! But if you even say the words, “single
payer,” various people-under-the-influence will shout you down as a socialist
troublemaker.
Oh, that there were a God that answered prayer! We certainly need a lot more help than we’re
getting.
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