Long Hot Summer

Leading a double life doesn’t just mean drifting back and forth between two countries. You acquire cultural bifocals over the years. Sometimes, you are surprised by the passion inspired in one of your worlds to a government proposal. “Where’s the problem?” you say to yourself. “It’s already working like that elsewhere.” If you are brave enough to say it aloud, the response comes back swiftly: “It may be all right for them but it isn’t acceptable here.” You sit back in wonder and, sometimes, in sadness, a stranger in a strange land.
I’ve been experiencing this all summer as I listen to the debate about Health Care Reform. How can a country (my country) with an international reputation for pragmatism and problem-solving, not be able to find a better and cheaper solution?
To resume the situation for my non-American readers: President Obama wants health care reform before the end of the year. Many Democrats support him on this but have different ideas of how it should be done -- from gently tweaking the present system to changing to one similar to those Canada and Western Europe have been happily living with for up to 60 years. There may be some Republicans who support reform but the majority vary in attitude from sceptical and nervous to completely panicked at any change that has been proposed.
Like other elected officials, Tom Perriello, the congressman for the district that includes Charlottesville has been having meetings in different towns for the entire month of August. Last week, it was Charlottesville’s turn. I decided to go.
People started arriving an hour before to support their point of view.




The local television was there to cover the event.


By 6 p.m. the High School Auditorium was packed. The majority, as is normal in Democratic Charlottesville, were there to support their newly elected Congressman and some kind of health care reform.


Those who wanted to ask a question were positioned on either side of the auditorium


They had all come prepared and passionate. At times I was reminded of the film “Sicko” as citizen after citizen told personal stories of being denied coverage for serious illness or declaring personal bankruptcy because of medical bills. The few speakers for the other side asked legalistic questions such as “Where in the Constitution does it say that the government should provide health care?” or “Is health care a right or a service?” One lady told of her elderly parents in Canada who had to come back to the United States for care, having been denied it there. (I have been amazed all summer at the number of Republicans who have close friends and family members in Canada, all of whom have been denied coverage by the Canadian government, unlike my Canadian friends. Just unlucky I guess.)
I’m still searching for the irrefutable argument that will rally everyone to the logic of my point of view. And, when I find it, I just know I’ll be able to convince the French how easy it is to reform their university system. Wish me luck.