Wide scale civil unrest coming to America before long?

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

I've heard from several sources that based on what President Obama is doing, i.e. expanding the size and control of the government, and especially trying to ram the health care reform through, it won't be long before either the government initiates some kind of violent action against the people or (more likely) the people initiate violence against the government, thus creating massive problems for America.

If you think this is completely outside the realm of possibility, consider the riots and protests in Greece right now.

There's a lot of anti-Obama sentiment out there right now and it may only take one well placed match to set the whole thing off. Maybe nothing will happen I don't know, but I am curious if anyone else seriously believes this could happen?

[Wingates_Hellsing]

I certainly believe a bunch of crazies could try something, it's happened in the past. But there's really no reason to believe that more than the usual minority of 'em have anything more than talk.

On a side note, I find it funny that the much debated and discussed healthcare reform is being "rammed through". They've gone over this thing for record amounts of time, how exactly is that "rammed through"?

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

I certainly believe a bunch of crazies could try something, it's happened in the past. But there's really no reason to believe that more than the usual minority of 'em have anything more than talk.

On a side note, I find it funny that the much debated and discussed healthcare reform is being "rammed through". They've gone over this thing for record amounts of time, how exactly is that "rammed through"?

I suppose I should clarify that. I was referring to "ramming through" in the context of trying to get it to pass using whatever means necessary and going against the will of a lot of the people in the process.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

The legislature does a lot of shit that people don't want to happen. The idea, however, is that the actual members get a vote and other people, no matter how opinionated or qualified, don't. Granted, it's also their job to listen to said opinions when making a law and I'm sure most if not all have, if only those opinions (against) were by and large inane crap. At the end of the day, if you get the votes, you get the law.

I'd be more sympathetic if the naysayers either A: Had a reason not to pass the reform that wasn't contrived or B: Weren't stonewalling simply because it's Obama's / The Democrats law.

[Gravekeeper]

I think you're listening to the Fox news narrative a bit too much.

The nutjobs that would cause unrest are a minority. The health care reform has been debated for a year now and this "ramming it down our throats" bullshit is just the repeated buzz words of the media ( Repeat a narrative long enough and people will believe it ). The procedures that could be used to "ram it" as it were, were freely used by the Republicans when they're in office. So this faux outrage is bullshit, really. All of the outrage surrounding health care reform is manufactured outrage, frankly.

Most people are for health care reform when you explain it to them. When you just go up to people and go "OMFG A BLACK MAN IS GONNA USE YER MONEY TO KILL BABIEZ" of course they're going to say no. Its all bullshit, but a lot of Americans seem to live in information bubbles. They never venture outside of the media circles that tell them what they want to hear so they don't have a balanced perspective of whats going on.

[AdminAssistant]

I wouldn't be surprised if the douchebag-*cough* excuse me, Teabaggers initiated some violence against us liberal, socialist, communist bastards. After all, this is a group, and a party, accustomed to resorting to bully tactics and violence to get what it wants. What that is, of course, is anybody's guess, but it seems to be a nation under a very specific God, freedom for the upper classes, and oppression for anybody not rich, white, and/or male.

As far as health care reform goes, I would wager that most people are in favor of some kind of health reform. What we need, of course, is single-payer national health care, like, y'know, most other first-world nations.

Aw, and Republicans are complaining about ramming legislation through? *cough cough* Sorry, I'm choking on irony. How about the Patriot Act? How about a fucking war? Better get that shit in during a time of national crisis, when people are too scared to worry about their rights.

[Savannah]

I agree with Wingates_Hellsing and Gravekeeper, and I can't really add anything to what they say, except to that the "trying to get it to pass using whatever means necessary" that you mention is what I would call "negotiation and compromise" and it's something that the USA needs to do a whole lot more of.

Crazedclerk, would you mind elaborating on what sources you've heard this from?

[Boozy]

"Civil unrest is coming" is usually something spouted by neocon talking heads. They'd love an excuse to shoot some liberals, after all.

But it ain't happening. Americans are just too damned apathetic. So are Canadians, for that matter.

[Gravekeeper]

Americans are just too damned apathetic. So are Canadians, for that matter.

Also, too polite and accepting. It just wouldn't be proper manners to overthrow anything. I mean really now.

[smileyeagle1021]

I'd be more sympathetic if the naysayers either A: Had a reason not to pass the reform that wasn't contrived or B: Weren't stonewalling simply because it's Obama's / The Democrats law.

I'd be more sympathetic for one reason and one reason only... if they had a better option. I have no health insurance, I had to go to the doctor today (thankfully it was just flu/bronchitis and not pneumonia which has been going around recently), and just to walk through the door cost $75... actually, take that back, to walk through the door was $130 but $75 was the DOWN PAYMENT. After seeing the doctor who said that based on what she could hear listening to my lungs she could not conclusively say whether or not I had pneumonia... then she said that she was not sure whether or not she would recommend getting an x-ray because of the cost for those without insurance. They point blank told me that I could not get a viral panel if I had wanted one because they knew I couldn't afford to pay (not that I really needed one).
Now, here comes the part where I am lucky, the place I went to is a non-profit, so with the exception of the prescriptions and the minimum payment my payment arrangement will be determined by how much I can afford (yes, I am having to finance a doctor's visit). I'm sorry, this is absurd, we need to finance routine doctor's visits... God help me if I needed something serious (hello bankruptcy court).
Obviously the system is broken, so come to me with an alternative or shut up and get out of the way.

[elsporko]

I think more then half of Americans are going to have to vote before enough people are upset enough to actually have widespread fighting.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

I have to say I'd relish the chance to shoot back at the neocons, 'twould take them entirely by surprise

[protege]

Obviously the system is broken, so come to me with an alternative or shut up and get out of the way.

We already have Medicare and Medicaid. Why not fix that, instead of coming up with an entirely new system...which will probably end up the same way?

[elsporko]

Neither Medicare nor Medicade has the scope the new healthcare system will have. They could be amended to provide the services but thats like asking why buy a new car instead of converting the scooter you own into a car.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

We already have Medicare and Medicaid. Why not fix that, instead of coming up with an entirely new system...which will probably end up the same way?

Because in order to get Medicare and Medicaid to do what needs to be done we'd have to revamp them to the point where we might as well be making a whole new system anyway. Better to keep the new stuff separate.

and by-the-by, both Medicare and Mediaid were and are quite effective.