OPINION: Many resent push toward 'big government'

Many Americans are tired of seeing their country drift toward socialism. Their perception has turned into resentment and boiled over at town hall meetings across the country as politicians from President Barack Obama to U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., have attempted to sell taxpayers on a nationalized health care plan.

The spirited reaction against Obama’s agenda comes from conservative opponents tired of seeing the government being the answer to every problem in modern life.

As Obama and his followers work to overcome a wave of opposition, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., has emerged as a leading and effective opponent of the president.

DeMint has turned health care into an issue of outrage for Republicans. He has managed to boil the debate to a few key catchy phrases and has energized a party devastated by Obama in the 2008 election.

Along other things, DeMint, a former marketing executive, has promised to make health care Obama’s Waterloo. He characterized the health care debate as “a real showdown between socialism and freedom.”

DeMint has been criticized for supporting the status quo and being in the insurance companies’ back pocket. In fact, he has led the fight for reform on two fronts, pushing to let consumers buy insurance across state lines and to permit businesses to poll their health care policies.

Democrats have tried to use town hall meetings to explain health care reform. The meetings have been flooded by critics. They use DeMint’s line about socialism and freedom effectively, making the situations tense and often uncomfortable.

“I encourage people to be civil, to be courteous and to be respectful to their lawmaker, but I have encouraged people to go to the town halls and express their views,” DeMint told McClatchy newspapers. “I’ve never seen people so alarmed about the direction of their country.”

Clyburn, the House Majority Whip, told National Public Radio the discourse has been “hostile and rude,” accusing the Republicans of creating “a cascading effect that will result in victories for them at the polls next November.”

Even Republicans are taking heat. In Boiling Springs, a crowd of 300 turned out last week to blister U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis, R-S.C. He opposes Obama’s plans, but the folks in the little town of 4,500 about 75 miles southwest of Columbia didn’t care. Outraged constituents took over the meeting, prompting Inglis to shut off his microphone and leave.

Here’s what we’re seeing at the town hall meetings: People are frustrated by the push toward bigger government. They have reached their limit of bank bailouts, auto bailouts and stimulus packages.

The 2008 election seemed to have been a referendum on Obama. He won easily over U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., handing Obama what seemed to be a mandate for unlimited change.

McCain roundly criticized Obama’s health care ambitions, saying in his convention acceptance speech: “My health care plan will make it easier for more Americans to find and keep good health care insurance. His plan will force small businesses to cut jobs, reduce wages and force families into a government-run health care system where a bureaucrat stands between you and your doctor.”

But the words didn’t resonate with voters until DeMint framed the debate as a choice of freedom over socialism and until conservative talk show host Glenn Beck on Fox News started hammering the Democrats.

In the final analysis, the debate over health care should not come down to a few key phrases and angry moments at town hall meetings.

Millions of Americans are out of work and have lost their health care insurance. The system needs fixing to provide a safety net and reduce the number of uninsured.

The American health care system is a $2.5 trillion industry. It’s populated with disjointed public and private interests. Special interests have a major interest — but so do patients.

Reform must inspire the trust and confidence. So far, this campaign to fix the problem is in need of repair itself.

In a fight between socialism and freedom, as critics have framed the debate, freedom will win every time.

— Unsigned editorials represent the views of this newspaper. Editorial Board members are Mark Laskowski (regional publisher), James Bennett (regional editor), Sam Bundy (sports editor), Kimberly Ginfrida (news editor), David Johnson (regional circulation director), Charles Tomlinson (Lake City News & Post editor) and Jackie Torok (metro editor).