For or against universal healthcare bills? Lobby, please. Whichever side you are on, responsibly use your voice to be heard.

I've always been for grassroots politics, as I believe that the discourse and debate is practically more important than the outcome. After all, without hearing all points of view on both sides of an issue, how can one make an educated decision?

That said, I'm extremely disappointed . . . nay . . . sickened by "town hall" protesters displaying swastikas and depictions of President Obama as Adolf Hitler.

Do these protesters realize that both the swastika and the World War II dictator not only represent communism and fascism over true socialism, but more importantly, that both symbols represented an era of hate and government sanctioned genocide against Jews, minorities, and homosexuals? Furthermore, the American Nazi movement is, deplorably, still alive and active, and has nothing to do with left-wing politics.

Before displaying a political symbol which has become synonymous with violence and hatred, one should consider the millions of people who suffered or were put to death under the black and red flag. Consider furthermore the recent victims of street violence who have been beaten or killed in the name of Nazi tenets. Is it not an injustice to these victims to misuse these symbols as propaganda to instill fear in regards to an unrelated political issue?

It is also important to recognize that many industrialized nations who are not, and never have been affiliated with the Nazi party have successfully provided universal healthcare to their people for years. One of the most effective countries at accommodating all of its citizens is Sweden, who, during World War II, was practically the only area in Europe to offer amnesty to German Jews, and as such, deserve a certain amount of reverence for their ability at the time to recognize a people in peril. Certainly this government would find it atrocious that in the United States, lobbyists are paralleling their political concepts with symbols of fascist hatred.

I hope that people will continue to voice their opinions and concerns openly to friends, neighbors, and politicians. But please, PLEASE, don't use the suffering of others to misrepresent an issue. Government tolerated genocide has been an atrocious historical problem, and terrifyingly, continues to thrive in many areas of the world today. If you are out to fight hatred, why not choose one of these fronts to parallel to Nazi Germany? If you are out to fight universal healthcare, please find precedence and images related to the issue at hand.

P.S. All of the local Nazi folk I've spent time talking to seem to be strongly affiliated with the political right. While I haven't discussed universal health care with any of them personally, I'd assume that they are against the policy, seeing that it comes from the Democratic party in general. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and think that maybe they're offended that their symbols are being used as well. Has anyone discussed this with them, I wonder?

I say we go out there in KKK uniforms and protest alongside of them.

Honestly, I dont have a friggin clue what the health care situation is. Why its good, why its bad, no idea. I do not have health insurance, nor does my family. If universal health care is 'everybody can go see a doctor for free' and its paid for through taxes, I think I'm ok with it. However, I dont think its as strait forward as that. Also, I think that it will quickly get outta hand with people mistreating the system. We all know dishonest people and hypochondriacs. I dont want to pay taxes on a plan thats feeding drugs addicts, or paying for boob jobs and unnecessary surgery. Not cool.

If I am completely wrong with what universal health care is, then I'm sorry. I already said I know dick about the subject, but thats how I feel. I have no affiliation with any political party ( except the GL Corps ) .

As for the use of Swastikas and allegations that Obama is the next Hitler, thats silly and irresponsible. I didnt vote for the guy, and he has a huge job to do. I think people are to quick to label failure on someone. Have we already forgotten Bush?! Obama hasn't even been in office for a year, right? Cut the guy a little slack. I dont think he was the right man for the job, but everybody wanted change, and now they are crapping their pants that things are changing.

As a healthcare worker, my opinion is that tax dollars are already paying for the uninsured. Because of lack of fundage, a lot of times, people don't get treated until they are in dire straits of an emergency.

Take for instance appendicitis, an example I see ALL THE TIME. Insured folk go in at the 24 hour mark of fevers, stomach ache, and vomiting. Hopefully, a good doctor will make a diagnosis of non-perforated appendicitis, and the answer is a few doses of front line antibiotics, and 1 night in the hospital with IV fluids.

People who are not insured wait until their relative is pale and near unconcious. Their appendix is ruptured, often to the point of a septic belly. At this point, tax dollars are paying for a week long hospital stay, including broad spectrum antibiotics, tubes to drain the infection, possible parenteral nutrition ($2000 per day food in an IV bag), and sometimes an ICU bed. Since it is a medical emergency, care is required, whether or not a person can pay.

I don't know if the difference is enough to justify "universal healthcare", but I'm surprised there are no statistics on it. I'd like to know. As is right now, we're already paying, and I can't help but wonder exactly how much would be saved or lost if America was given early treatment and preventative options, even with hypochodriacs.

Oh, and BTW, NO insurance company, public or private, would ever pay for a boob job. Unless it's considered repairative after breast cancer. Oh, wait? Guess who gets entitled new gazongas from you taxpayers under the new public plan?

Suckers.

I would not mind at all if my tax dollars went towards boob jobs

Why stop there? Make this world a happier place. Use tax dollars for the obligatory paper-bag-over-head.

I wouldnt mind as much if I could see said boobs, that had been jobbed.

I'd put up photos right now. But my front half looks like a freak show in its current state.

I'm hoping to perform Hedwig and the Angry Inch live before the doctors try and make me look human again.