Healthcare in the U.S.: Socialist Paranoia of Obama’s Reform

The public protest against Obama’s healthcare reform is getting louder. The public outrage seems to be the aim of pursed-lipped Republicans.

Officially, the U.S. is on a political summer break. Nevertheless, vacationers traveling across the country are encountering information booths about healthcare reform where President Barack Obama is depicted with a Hitler mustache. The same goes for those who watch the news channels on television where similar pictures are shown.

Every summer, representatives and senators answer questions from their constituents in so-called town hall meetings. Recently, they have been turning into screaming matches. Disgruntled men and women, usually of advanced age, have been shouting down the representatives. In many places, Democratic senators have to bring with them police protection.

The protestors’ placards read “No socialism” or “No to government run health care” or “Nobama Deathcare.” Among them, children are sent to the front holding pieces of paper high in the air which read: “Obama Lies, Grandma Dies.” In the same vein as the Hitler comparison, representations of President Obama as “Obamadinejad,” a play on Iran’s hated leader, are springing up.

The resistance is aimed at the planned healthcare reform. These Americans interpret the introduction of health insurance for all as “socialism” and the measures used to keep costs down as a death sentence for sick seniors. The financing proposal is something straight from the lie factory. In former times, town hall meetings were mannered discussions with a respectful exchange of arguments.

Much is different in this summer of 2009. The media is asking why are these intense outbursts of anger a response to an unpopular reform project? Or is there a Republican campaign behind it all, still angry about losing a majority in Congress and only able to instigate in the streets? Obama’s press secretary Robert Gibbs has spoken more often than not about a “mob” in these situations.

All signs point to a little bit of both. Polls keep proving the same thing: a majority of U.S. citizens fear change in the healthcare system. In a recent CNN poll, 83 percent said they favor their healthcare system. 74 percent are content with their current health insurance provider. For Europeans, who know both systems and can compare them, this is astounding. The average German citizen is better insured against sickness than the average American, and at a much lower cost.

Most Americans think differently than Europeans about the role of the state and the right amount of societal solidarity. State-organized insurance for all is taken as a compulsory system without choices, or “socialism.” Many Americans consider part of individual freedom the freedom not to be insured against sickness and to take the risk themselves.

The skepticism against Obama’s plans for healthcare reform has grown. More Americans find the project a “bad idea” than a “good idea.” The number of people who think that the quality of their healthcare will decrease is almost double those who think the reform will bring better healthcare.

One cannot overlook that the protests are organized. Early in the day, protest groups get in line for town hall meetings and, once inside, seat themselves right by the microphone to dominate the debate. In Baltimore, 50 minutes passed with only negative comments before a supporter of the reform was able to speak. Mass e-mails are circulating the internet with the most important points of criticism to be brought up in the meetings. This includes the supposition that Obama wants to give all foreigners in the U.S. free healthcare, including illegal immigrants.

Obama sees the danger in his biggest domestic campaign promise losing support and he is traveling across the country to drum up support. At his meetings, things are a bit friendlier. Media commentators who are close to the Republicans claim that the attendees at the meetings are hand-picked. Summer break in the U.S. is heating up.