Compare and Contrast

The health care debate is driving me nuts. I come from a family of doctors and I know my opinions are shaped by their expeiences and views. Both of my parents believe that we MUST reform the system even though it will cost them a substantial portion of their salaries. The insurance companies are a scam. There needs to be more government regulation. My otherwise healthy 25 year old sister can only get coverage from her university because of some herniated disks in her back and a friend my age with lukemia will have no options when she graduates next year. That is wrong.

Now I enjoy watching political news shows (of the liberal tilt) but I try and listen to conservative pundits as well. I have trouble making it through half of a broadcast. The misinformation and scare tactics are disgraceful.

Here are two clips. One from Keith Olbermann and one from Glenn Beck.





While I agree with Keith and can't stand Glenn I think its really interesting to hear how similar their outrage is but how differently it is packaged. While Keith is very well spoken, it is always with a feel of intellectual down talking. He uses long words and complex sentence structures woven in an almost hypnotic way such that I sometimes find it hard to follow. I get lost in the flow.

Glenn on the other hand tries to be the "everyman" and defend America against the rich intelligista who have "high jacked" the government. His sentences are short and delivered at maximum volume. While Keith scolds, Glenn mocks.

It all seems like school yard politics. And everytime Obama tries to instigate balanced adult discussion he gets nanner nanner boo booed from both sides.

thanks to Ana Marie Cox's blog for the clips