Outburst, and a Choice

I am not sure how many of you saw the president's speech on health care last night, but during the speech, Republican house representative Joe Wilson decided to shout, "You lie!" after Obama dispelled notions that his plan would offer free health care to illegal immigrants. His outburst underlines the tremendous efforts Republicans, along with most of the mainstream media, are making to obscure what health reform means, and obstruct its progress in any way possible.
Of course, this is simply a continuation of two recurring themes:
1) Republicans have made the shrewd calculation that if they can stop health care reform, Obama will be seen as a failure, and thus, their chances to take back seats in the House and the Senate will increase, along with their presidential aspirations in 2012.
2) The media treat health care as a middle of the road issue, in which each side has an equally legitimate claim for their position; moreover, by confusing people and generating fear, they drive up their ratings as people seek the latest news on the issue. This is not the first issue to receive such treatment by the media, and it won't likely be the last. Coincidental or not, this treatment of news almost always benefits the GOP, which grows more old and less grand with each passing moment.
If this sounds more like a soap opera than two institutions taking seriously their responsibility to do some good for the American people, well, make no mistake: it is, and it seems quite plain that if this trend continues, government will essentially cease to function, and that is something that Americans can simply not afford during economic turmoil and changing times.
During certain historical periods, it is true that government hasn't done anything but line the pockets of those fortunate few that happened to govern; the eras of 1820-1860, 1870-1900, 1920-1932, and 1948-1960; and largely, the recent era from 1970-today. The periods immediately following each of these periods are marked by government actions that drastically altered the shape and course of our nation: the civil war, the progressive era, the New Deal and reforms of FDR, and finally, the civil rights expansion and social reforms of LBJ. These periods of reform were necessary for the good of our country, and we come now to another such period.
The problem is that Democrats and progressives cannot do it alone, dragging the others along kicking and screaming. The old adage stands true like a prophecy that, united we stand, divided we fall. So, Republicans, throw down your weapons, and instead of merely thinking of how to politically gain from the obstruction of progress, join in and reap the rewards; bring your ideas, tell us where we're wrong, but let us at least work toward a common goal, rather than continue this futile tug-of-war.
As Americans, we have a choice now, and two roads we can go down. The first road is led by the fear of change and the slow rotting decay of our social, political, and economic instituions; the second, by the hope of a prosperous future, the gumption to work hard for the benefit of all Americans, and the courage to meet and throw down the challenges that stand in the way of progress.
Which road will the press and the GOP choose? That remains to be seen. For the sake of this nation, I hope it's the latter.