Boiling it down for the boy

My kid is a news media consumer, even at his young age. He listens to NPR in the car with me, he watches The Daily Show and Colbert- which have become media criticism programs as much as comedy shows- he asks for background and then he considers and forms opinions. And we discuss.

These discussions give me a chance to cut through the BS and clean up the points in a way that talks with adult friends often do not. There isn't a self-affirming loop, nor a descent into accusation. Instead, there's the responsibility of clarification, because I will not let him grow up parroting the talking points of either side.

So this morning, NPR's reporting something or another on the health insurance reform debate. Conversation goes, basically, like this:

Him: It's like they said on The Daily Show; Jon said "But Bush supported end-of-life counseling," and Wiley said "Yeah, but he was a guy that I voted for!"

Me: Here's the thing, boy. The debate in congress isn't about "death panels". The debate in congress is simply this: Should government dip its hand into the health insurance industry, or not? And if so, how much will it cost and should that money be spent?

The health insurance industry has a powerful voice in congress, and they do not want to tamper with the market. Fiscal conservatives do not want to spend government money, on principal.

The thing is, politically speaking, it's easier to get the people riled up if you pretend you're debating death panels and government control and who's tactics are worse and which side has more crazies.

And that is, really, all there is to it.

Are there true believers in congress who would hold their positions with or without industry lobbying? I think so, but I don't think their beliefs are grounded in anything common to our society in general.

Are there members of congress who really, on principle, think that the economic health of the country depends on freer markets and less social spending? Of course, but I'd argue that they've held sway for 20 years and the outcomes make a damn good argument for reform.

And there are those who, no matter the outcome, see this as an opportunity for political gain. That isn't part of the congressional job description, and it's a deplorable perversion of power, but again: keep screaming about death panels and maybe no one will notice.

And sure, a few may actually believe in the threat of death panels and the destruction of the constitution. But they're just really stupid.