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Healthcare reform is a contentious issue.  On the one hand, nobody wants anyone else to go without necessary medical care, on the other hand, not everyone is enthusiastic about being saddled with the cost of everyone else’s medical bills.

We can argue whether the The Beatles or The Stones were the greater rock band.  We can disagree on whether or not Matthew McConaughey is hotter than Colin Farrell, or which actor was the  best James Bond.  We can argue which country makes the best autos, or who was the NFL’s greatest quarterback.  We can disagree on any number of things and still remain friends–except those things which touch peoples values–like religion and politics.

I don’t believe in proselytizing, not my values, not my religion, not my politics.  There isn’t any future in it.  There are many who love to argue their beliefs in attempt to enlighten others, and/or prove they are right.  I find arguing to be  a distasteful waste of time.  If people ask,  I am willing to discuss, debate and defend my views, but I don’t like the disruptive quality arguments have on relationships. Which is why as we prepare to go to the polls again, in what seems to be an election of some significance, I wanted to give readers something to consider.

There are all kinds of people in this fine country.  There are good people, bad people, hardworking people, shiftless people, remarkable people, dull people, crazy people, intelligent people, misguided people—some are better company than others, but people are people.  Everyone of us knows people we’d rather not know, but in general most of those we interact with, are decent folks, worthy of respect.

What makes us different is that each individual is exactly that–an individual, shaped by their raising and experience.  But even among individuals, there is a set of common traits.  Everyone wants to have a comfortable standard of living–to live without fear of financial woes, to be able to pay for the things we need and still have some left over for things we want.  We want to have autonomy in figuring out what is best for us.  We want to be able to take care of our families and help our friends.  That’s you.  That’s me.  The people who favor “socialized” medicine, are generally not card-carrying members of Lenin fan club, plotting the next Marxist revolution, anymore than those on the other side are Dickensian villains who would have everyone turned out on the streets or sent to workhouses.

They’re people, people whose beliefs are felt sincerely.  Reasonable people hold reasonable views.  They may be right or wrong, but one of the greatest things about this country, is that we are given the ability and the freedom to think for ourselves, as I believe our creator and the founding fathers intended.

We are different, we don’t all see the world through the same lens, but we believe what we believe for reasons which make sense to us.  Our ideas on taxes, education, healthcare, social programs and human rights are crafted by what we believe to be true. Truth is universal, personal truths are not.  Just as good ideas are sometimes shot down in corporate boardrooms, on any issue, there is someone who sees it differently.  Those disagreements can cause unpleasant ripples and irreparable rifts between people.  No matter what views people have, they are still worthy of respect.  We all have issues on which we disagree, but in the end, people are just people.  Like you, like me.

(Dedicated to my friend Meredith)

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