Health care debate reflects spirit of freedom

The United States is witnessing an unusual outburst of philosophical activism this August as Americans by hundreds of thousands are loudly (and sometimes rudely) protesting efforts of President Barack Obama and Democrats to expand government control of private health care.

Many Democratic leaders have claimed the outraged citizens flooding town hall meetings and other events have been organized by defenders of the status quo and don't represent actual public sentiments. But reason argues the displayed anger and frustration is truly genuine when audiences pack gymnasiums and convention rooms even for meetings with lawmakers clearly known to oppose Democratic health care reform, such as has happened in recent days with Reps. Jeff Flake and John Shadegg, both Arizona Republicans.

A consistent theme of the protests has been to ignore the details of the Democratic proposals and to focus on principles of the U.S. Constitution and freedom. Many Americans are acknowledging that protecting those principles from further erosion requires more of us to take personal responsibility for purchasing health care instead of turning to government for answers and all of the difficulties that would entail.

One important reason that opponents are rising up so fiercely now is because Americans understand that government spending becomes entrenched once enacted; the special interests which benefit from taxpayer largess make it nearly impossible to roll back or transform bad programs after the fact. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are leading examples of the reality that there would be no such thing as "experimenting" or "flirting" with further government involvement in private health care. The gate that would be opened never would be closed again.

Unfortunately, heated passions have prompted some people to forget their manners while attending these public events. Others are taking advantage of the emotional debate to make gross exaggerations or unwarranted accusations about the various health care proposals.

Shouting down opponents and lying about their goals might feel good at the moment, but such tactics taint credibility over time and ultimately fray the fabric of our common society. Ongoing criticism needs to be done reasonably, civilly and with the proper facts.

We've always known a libertarian spirit still resides deeply in the American body politic, even though it has been repressed time and again by both major parties since the Great Depression. The question is whether that spirit's emergence now is a momentary flash, or will Americans really embrace the social and cultural sacrifices that reinvigorating freedom requires.