Civil Servants

Let’s talk about civility.

Remember the civil days of George W? The days when you only had to speak his name, and people would laugh, roll their eyes, and throw out a phrase about warmongers, idiots, and Hitler? Those civil days…

I bring this up, because of Vince Beltrami’s latest Alaska Voice blog. Mr. Beltrami, wrote about Obama’s “patriotic” Elmendorf speech. The bulk of his article, however, concerned the “loss of civility” in American politics – especially, since Obama came to office.

Which is why I brought up GW…

To his credit, Mr. Beltrami admitted his difficulty in refraining from “vehement disrespect” towards Bush. He also admitted that Democrats “weren’t much better” to Bush.

I sincerely appreciate the honesty.

Beltrami then stated that conservative arguments have “devolved into a shouting match. Rationality and civility are nowhere in sight.”

This is where I disagree.

Rationality is “nowhere in sight?” Really?

I wonder if Mr. Beltrami was at Senator Murkowski’s latest Health Care meeting (I didn’t see him there). If he had been there, he would have noticed the respectful manner in which most people spoke. Regular Alaskans gave facts and numbers to back up their opposition to government run health care.

Pitchforks were not seen.

Rationality –and civility – were alive and well.

Mr. Beltrami is hardly alone in his belief that conservatives are now a large, foaming horde.

In his recent speech to Congress, Bill Clinton crowed that “The teabaggers are scared because you’re winning.” (Classy statement, for an ex prez…)

Well, how about addressing our arguments, Mr. Clinton, instead of simply labeling us as a wild eyed mob?

Mr. Clinton did get one thing right: we are a bit fearful. But it is a fear based on facts – and a fear that has yet to be refuted by those on the left. (Perhaps it’s hard to deny the debt, the government control, the exorbitant fees and taxes…)

I recently wrote a letter to Senator Begich, describing the history of out-of-control government healthcare spending. I also warned about the current threats to our economy should the $1 trillion plus health care bill pass.

Instead of answering my contentions, he (or a staffer) wrote me a letter about Medicare Physicians Fairness Act… (I had devoted half of one sentence to the subject of Medicare physician payments…)

Thanks. But that didn’t address my arguments about the fiscal solvency of the United States. It just talked giving away more money (ironic).

My question is not, “where has the civility has gone?” That, unfortunately, went by the wayside long before Obama or Bush. (At least we haven’t devolved to early 19th century Congressional standards, where duels and cane beatings were in vogue…)

My question is: where has the debate gone? True debate. Answers to assertions.

Let’s put this into practice: Liberals don’t like conservatives calling the president a socialist… Yet, the President is pursuing a health care strategy that will lead to government control of America’s health care. Why is it not fair to call that socialist? (I’m honestly asking).

Why is it not fair to assert that the President is “taking away our freedoms?” The government has given stimulus money with massive strings attached. The feds now tell us which cars we can buy. The Internet is being lassoed. And Uncle Sam is trying to pass a climate change bill that will impose another massive tax on us all...

So, perhaps we’re wrong about the freedoms. But, gosh, something seems to be hugging us tighter and tighter…

Yes, I agree that civility is desirable. But more than civility, we need honest discussion. We need to be a government where the arguments of both sides are taken seriously. Where fact meets fact.

If true debate ensued, civility would again emerge (never fully… since humans have that fallible streak…). Oh sure, we’d get mad; yes, we’d even see the same facts in a completely different light. But at least we’d be truthfully discussing our positions.

A few months ago, the president said, “Instead of honest debate, we’ve seen scare tactics.” Yet, he didn't give any facts to dispute those "scare tactics."

Mr. President, we're ready for debate. Are you?