Jeff Campbell

The current debate over health care reform has taken ignorance, close mindedness, and  witch-hunts to a new level. In my opinion, both sides need to get their stories straight.

The "Death Squad" rumors, Nazi-Obama comparisons,  carrying loaded guns to town hall meetings has made opposition positions wreak of ignorance and un-educated bias. Unfortunately, the more something is repeated, the more it is believed regardless of its validity.

Most  rumors could have been avoided had the Health Reform supporters more clearly defined their plan, rather than incoherently bouncing 4 or 5 random plans around, leaving them vulnerable to misinterpretation.

The crux of the issue is people are getting too heated to properly educate themselves on the issues at hand.A quote from a great book I just read, Freakinomics, sums it up well:   "Emotion is the enemy of rational argument"

Rep. Barney Frank followed their lead when he said:

Rep. Frank has a VERY valid point. Having a rational and productive argument and/or discussion about a volatile issue is impossible when people make outrageous claims and comparisons and aren't willing to listen to the oppositions' point of view. Such near-sightedness clouds their viewpoint and judgement.  Many options exist. But with the shouting and name calling, these options and ideas will be drown out.

I have tried to leave my "Emotion" out till now, and I will try my best to keep the next few words strictly to my opinion.

While both sides duke it out, there are still 35 millionto 46 million of us, again depending on who you ask, walking around uninsured, and some of us not by choice I might add.

This Health Care Reform is not trying to take away guns, bibles, or the constitution. It is trying to spread what I believe is a RIGHT, rather than a privilege, to health care. Call me what you may, but why are we so enamored with Europe's chocolate, trains, import cars, and art but cry "Socialism" the second their model of healthcare is brought up?

Some say that the quality of health care would go down if we adopt a similar model, but how much worse could my healthcare plan get if I don't have one to begin with?

Just as better car maintenence decreases the likelihood of a catastrophic and expensive automotive break-down or accident, having a Public Option (keep your plan if you want it) where everyone has the option to have their oil changed before their engines sieze will keep people healthier, longer, and cheaper.

We are not asking for the BMW of health policies the employees of large corporations get. We can't pay much so we don't expect much. But having a Honda Civic version would be just fine by me.Having the option to go a general practitioner before a simple health complication escalates to an Emergency Room visit will save me and you money. SOME health coverage is better than NONE.