A recent article in the AARP Bulletin is a small but very positive sign that the "debate" on health care may be shifting. AARP has millions of members who receive the AARP Bulletin.
The September AARP Bulletin (http://bulletin.aarp.org) has a very strong article on the healthcare debate called "The Assault on Truth".
It is quite hard hitting for a mainstream publication. I must say I was pleasantly surprised when I read it. I wondered, why can't the MSM do something like this? (Do I even need to ask?)
In just a few pages AARP exposed the right wing lies on health care. Yes, they actually used the word "lies" !
The bullet point summary before the article says the debate is "distorted by rumours and lies". The graphic showing a scary monster has the words "lies, hype, rumors, and slurs" on its back.
The article talks about a "tsunami of rumours, myths, fear-mongering, and misinformation."
Most importantly, for each lie, the article indicates how it started and who spread it.
- Is this socialized medicine? NO
- Will private insurance be outlawed? NO
- Will the government encourage euthanasia ? NO
How did it start? Betsy McCaughey on July 16. Followed by John Boehner on July 24.
4)Will Medicare be eliminated or gutted? NO
How did it start? Dick Morris.
- Will the government ration care? NO
How did it start? Frank Luntz.
AARP should be commended for such a fair minded article. The article goes on to indicate how much health care reform is needed.
The most important thing about this article is that AARP is willing to stand up to the right wing lies and actually call them "lies". AARP does not do what the MSM has been doing, which is to frame the right wing lies as worthy of discussion and "debate". AARP calls them what they are and says they have no merit whatsoever.
Here's hoping that all AARP members will read and understand this very important article in their monthly AARP bulletin.