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 The Rhetoric of Health Care MisinformationPosted on Aug 10, 2009
What is it about chain e-mails that makes potentially reasonable people who might even be wary of believing everything they read—at least when it comes to stories generated by media outlets—so gullible and so willing to latch on to hyperbolic distortions and ideologically driven misinformation campaigns? This echo-chamber effect is magnified by talk radio and television news demagogues, not to mention elected officials, and it’s what appears to be happening with the contentious national debate over health care reform. Witness, for example, the “death panel” notion advanced last week (via Facebook, no less) by Sarah Palin, who seems to be taking a page from Phyllis Schlafly’s rhetorical playbook. If Americans really believe that President Obama (the Magic Nero?) is going to have the power to give the thumbs-down ruling on their loved ones’ lives, having bestowed himself with some sinister form of euthanasia-oriented veto power, what else might they be willing to swallow? USA Today’s editorial staff pulled together some answers to that question.
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A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.
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By rfidler, August 13 at 3:52 pm #
G.Anderson:
“American medicine is a disaster”. Are you serious?! It’s the best in the world!
“The conservatives, will do anything to protect, their big paydays from the insurance companies.” I’m a conservative and I haven’t received a single paycheck from an insurance company. Where do I sign up? Why wasn’t I told about this?
Report thisBy rfidler, August 13 at 3:47 pm #
“What is it about chain e-mails that makes potentially reasonable people who might even be wary of believing everything they read—at least when it comes to stories generated by media outlets—so gullible and so willing to latch on to hyperbolic distortions and ideologically driven misinformation campaigns?”
I love this opening passage appearing in Truthdig, a website grossly overpopulated by so many loonies who think 9/11 was an inside job, and that the CIA manufactured AIDS to kill blacks, and that Israel runs the world.
Hilarious.
Report thisBy hippie4ever, August 11 at 1:38 pm #
Why should we wait for health care reform? Europe initiated it after WWII, when everyone was out of work and their infrastructure and housing devastated from bombings. They did it and so can we.
The major problem is the Sheeple who resist growing a spine, and their corrupt mafioso Congress.
Oh yeah, and the POTUS with his bait-and-switch.
Report thisBy Rodger Lemonde, August 11 at 11:53 am #
The country especially needs better mental health care as evidenced by the insane claims flying around.
Report thisToo many people are a danger to themselves and others.
By LostHills, August 11 at 1:01 am #
Don’t take sides on this issue. Democrats and Republicans are both trying to screw you. Don’t get snookered by either of them. Any health care “reform” that we get out of this congress will be worse, much worse, than what we have now. Save health care reform until we have better leadership and the people are employed.
Report thisBy G.Anderson, August 10 at 11:49 pm #
American medicine is a disaster, unless there is health care reform it will go the way of GM.
When one considers that you are more likely to die from a medical mistake than be killed in a car accident, you have in a nut shell just how bad it’s become.
I wonder, how those who have gone bankrupt paying their medical bills feel about it? But they are never mentioned.
The conservatives, will do anything to protect, their big paydays from the insurance companies. And if Brown shirts are needed brown shirts, is what you get.
Report thisBy M Currey, August 10 at 8:19 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Not everyting that is on the internet is the truth it is opinion and there are opinions and then there are opinions. Anyone who believes Rush Limbaugh and his ranting needs to have their head examined. Rush is a paid mouthpiece and will say anything to stir up the pot. I think that he is frustrated and I heard that he had three wives. I do not really care if it is true or not.
Another piece of information is l. Hawaii is not a state and was not a state when Obama was born. 2. That he was born in Kenya. 3. Makes no difference his mother is an American citizen. 4. Someone on the internet said she was not old enough to be a citizen when Obama was born. Not old enough maybe not old enough to vote but old enough to have a child. 5. Her marriage is not legal because her husband was married in Kenya., how would she know that anyway and Obama’s father believed in many wives because his religion says he can more than one wife.
But in the long run the truth will win out. News people can say numerous people oppose but the so called numerous certainly make themselves heard.
In the long run there will be a health care bill because Corporations and businesses no longer give workers these options. There are not worker benefits anylonger. At least for most of the people.
Report this