A recent study led by Vanderbilt University professor Peter Buerhaus polled registered nurses about two timely issues -- the state of health care and the importance of the issue in the upcoming election.
With a close election expected, the country's three million registered nurses could make a difference in the election, Buerhaus says.
Most nurses interviewed support some form of universal health care coverage, although opinions vary on just how extensive coverage should be.
Very few approve of the country's health care system as it stands now, the survey shows.
...Slightly more than half, or 51 percent, believe that if all nurses could join together to address one health problem, it would be the number of uninsured Americans.
You've said what I continue to try to elucidate. Silence is approval and if people approve where does it leave them and what else can people infer from that approval.
Having thoughts in your head and a large vocabulary in no way infers the ability to blend them on paper.
I think you are missing the point. Some McCain supporters (and McCain & Palin themselves) are basing their political ideology on a platform of hate.
Our question is "Where is the outrage"? Why are the good people of McCain not crying out for this to stop?
I should tell you how I spent the past week:
After I saw the atrocious behavior in the "Free Speech Zone" at the Ohio rally in person, lining the streets of my main street and on the national news, I went down the street to my mayors house (a repub) and told him that I was concerned that people around the country are looking into our community and seeing the poster child of hate and bigotry. I asked him to admonish hate speech in our community and he refused.
I called city council reps and they not only shared my concern but also told me of more hate actions in my developement and in the city. Again, a refusal to admonish such hate speech.
Yesterday, I participated in a labor walk where not once but twice I was told that I was aiding terrorism by supporting a muslim. I spoke to my friend in a neighboring community and she told me similar tales. She has been warned to take down her Nurses for Obama sign or pay the consequence. These types of things are occurring all over the country and the "leaders" of this campaign continue to use inflammatory and false inferences to incite hate and/or fear.
This is irresponsible use of power and influence. If you agree say so and do something to protest it.
I am sorry that frank and open discussion has offended you. Frankly, there are many people offended in this nation and the only way to unify will be to go issue by issue and person by person. This is how attitudes are changed.
I do not believe that anyone called you any derogatory name personally. The accusations of racism and hate though not directed at you personally are unfortunately relevant in this thread as they have become relevant in the election. Not by my choosing.
The issue of racial and religious bias is also important to us as nurses. Remember the cross cultural implications of nursing care. We as caregivers must recognize our biases and work to eliminate unhealthy biases within our profession.
If you personally do not share the views of so many hateful Americans then I would suppose that we actually agree on this issue.
RN Power, you are so correct. I think the lack of willingness of those to engage and hear and/or respond to other points of view is illustrative of why and how we as americans landed and continue to be in this pitfall of poor race-relations. This is why we were so stunned to face the harsh realities of political rallies turning into hatefests! It's really scary. It's like two seperate America's we live in, however, those who have been at the brunt of this behavior will openly and candidly say it is the same America.
The fact that these incidents are occuring while 50% of the country yells foul and many people are saying that it is imagined is well disheartening. I can take having my candidate slammed on the issues.. It's fair game. But in no way can I sit and watch discussions based on hate and fear pervade the dialogue. Our country is in the worst of shape and the fact that we in 2008 are discussing race is pretty sad, but as sad as it is, it is in every respect what our founders intended. As long as people can be divided by fear, race, class, sex, etc the people as a whole are a lot easier to control. It is no mistake that the same fears that suggest that Obama is a terrorist and/or associated with terroism, show just how successful we have let the 9/11 attackers become. This was exactly the intended outcome. It's sad.
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
That's just it. SOME McCain supporters are hateful. SOME. Not all, not by a long shot.
Some Obama supporters also are hateful. SOME.
The trouble is, SOME supporters---on both sides---like to tar ALL of their opponents with the same brush. I've said it before, and I'll say it just one more time for the record: I think Obama is a good, decent man, and I respect him greatly for his oratorical skills and his family values. I simply don't agree with his more liberal ideas, thus my support for McCain. But that doesn't matter to some folks, and they are the reason I'm going to shut up and stay out of the political fray now. It isn't worth the frustration.
what right wingers mean when they call obama a "socialist"
right-wing attempts to paint barack obama as a socialist aren't just disingenuous. they're rooted in a history of conservative smears against black leaders.
...it's no wonder that the tone at mccain rallies remind lewis of the bad old days. in recent months, conservatives have sounded increasingly retro with their attempts to paint obama as a socialist or communist. in some ways, this accusation is typical far-right boilerplate. obama certainly isn't the first democrat running for president to be accused of communist sympathies. and as usual, the accusations are rarely linked to policy specifics. but the difference with obama is that, in the eyes of the right, it's not just his political affiliation that implicates him as a socialist. it's his ethnic background.
I understand in being conservative, you believe in LESS government. But, what about GWB? He is conservative and we now have MORE government than before.
Isn't it true that conservatives fear socialism? It sounds hypocritical to me to denounce Obama because it's believed he is a socialist, yet our republican government has asked the American people to bail out the banks. Socialism.
It's no surprise to me, with the way the "extreme right wing" has hijacked the republican party of General Eisenhower, that we are seeing long time conservative republicans coming out for Obama. President Eisenhower's grand daughter just endorsed Obama and Christopher Buckley too. The party in favor of less government and pro environment, has been replaced with a party in favor of big business; more government; anti environment and extremism.
My mom said sadly, the republican party used to be moderate; but no more.
I believe you are confusing Republicans with Conseratives. They are not one and the same.
GWB is a Republican. He is not, and never has been, a Conservative. When he first ran for the presidencey, he tried to reconcile this by calling himself a "Compassionate Conservative, " in essence trying to convince Conservatives that he was one of us, while trying not to alienate Moderate Republicans, with whom his beliefs and actions are more closely allied.
He has failed miserably. Republicans are dissatisfied with his record, as are Moderates and Conservatives.
If you are looking for an understanding of Conservatives, read about JFK, Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan or William S. Buckley. Before I get flamed, JFK was obviously not a Republican, but he put conservative philosophies to work in his leadership. Repulican and Conserative don't always go together.
Please don't confuse a bi-partisan vote to bail out the economy with Conservative support. I believe it was the wrong thing to do, and will only delay and prolong economic turmoil.
BTW, I agree with your mom. I believe the national Republican party is failing in terms of upholding Conservative principles. That is why I don't believe McCain was a good choice for the Presidential nominee. He is not a Conservative, just as GWB isn't.
I believe you are confusing Republicans with Conseratives. They are not one and the same.
GWB is a Republican. He is not, and never has been, a Conservative. When he first ran for the presidencey, he tried to reconcile this by calling himself a "Compassionate Conservative, " in essence trying to convince Conservatives that he was one of us, while trying not to alienate Moderate Republicans, with whom his beliefs and actions are more closely allied.
He has failed miserably. Republicans are dissatisfied with his record, as are Moderates and Conservatives.
If you are looking for an understanding of Conservatives, read about JFK, Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan or William S. Buckley. Before I get flamed, JFK was obviously not a Republican, but he put conservative philosophies to work in his leadership. Repulican and Conserative don't always go together.
Thank you, Jolie. I really appreciate your input.
It is confusing.
Most of my friends back home, will tell you they are conservative and they are republican. They always vote republican because it aligns closer to what they believe in.
I understand the two are separate and I will look at the information you have offered. What happened to the Libertarian party? Wasn't that the party for conservatives? I thought I read that somewhere.
I only just recently became more involved with politics, because of Obama. I like him; he drives me to make change. I left politics at the door when I left Colorado. My father was not happy, but it was never for me. Now I feel compelled to get involved.
Regardless, I am sure that some of my values align with conservatives; I was raised that way. At the same time, I have many liberal values.
The main difference between McCain and Bush was that the conservatives wholly approved of him in 2000 and 2004. Palin was a gift to conservatives because McCain was never in favor with them. It is only after the fact and the horrific failure of the GWB presidency that many have decried that he is not a conservative.
I wonder how this new information of her husband Todd Palin being a member of, and her giving the speech to the Alaskan Independent party is going to play out?
right-wing attempts to paint barack obama as a socialist aren't just disingenuous. they're rooted in a history of conservative smears against black leaders.
Atheos
2,098 Posts
Bravo RN Power Ohio!!!
You've said what I continue to try to elucidate. Silence is approval and if people approve where does it leave them and what else can people infer from that approval.
Having thoughts in your head and a large vocabulary in no way infers the ability to blend them on paper.