“Sliming Graeme Frost” – Krugman – 10/12/07

Last Friday, Paul Krugman took issue with the lambasting of Graeme Frost at the hands of the right-wing media machine. It is frustrating for me to watch our political discourse continually fall to this level. I loathe the carelessness in the media of presenting information and the corresponding laxity with which the populace consumes it. Though I am unwilling to exclusively condemn one side of the political spectrum, it does seem that this program of personal attacks by innuendo and lies is utilized entirely too often by the “mainstream” conservative pundits. Krugman points out that these are not “fringe elements” within the right wing media, but folks like Limbaugh and Malkin who are often cited and greatly respected (within their portion of the spectrum) sources of political information.

Believe it or not, I think America needs these folks on the right to stir the political pot with their perspective. The unfortunate reality is that this role of biased (not in a bad way) media outlets is being, along with many other aspects of our discourse, continually polarized where the other side cannot be given quarter at any time. This mentality is, in and of itself, not political – but a zero-sum war game where by one side always wins and the other loses. This is to me one of the biggest failures of a portion of the political spectrum that claims to be so pro-business. The failure to recognize a basic premise of economics - that win-win outcomes are where the most value is added – informs me that there is little interest in making America better in aggregate. The point is to make America better for a certain constituency.

“Politics aside, the Graeme Frost case demonstrates the true depth of the health care crisis: every other advanced country has universal health insurance, but in America, insurance is now out of reach for many hard-working families, even if they have incomes that some might call middle class... ultimately, this isn’t about the Frost parents. It’s about Graeme Frost and his sister. I don’t know about you, but I think American children who need medical care should get it, period. Even if you think adults have made bad choices – a baseless smear in the case of the Frosts, but put that on one side – only a truly vicious political movement would respond by punishing their injured children.”

Thank you Mr. Krugman. This is not as much of a political issue as it is an ethical one. I, along with many others, have lived through a childhood of no health insurance coverage. Children in these positions are exposed to countless health issues that if treated or addressed at an early age may not have a serious impact on their lives, but left untreated we put these kids at a health disadvantage as they enter adulthood. I guess our land of equal opportunity doesn’t apply to health, or education, or dynastic wealth....