Massa holds last Town Hall mtg, elicits criticism from opponent.
Eric Massa will hold his last August Recess Town-hall meeting Monday, August 31st in Horseheads, NY. We’ve tried to cover them and let our readers know what’s going on from Mendon to Victor. Eric has held up very well under attack from those who are uninformed. Now, his stlye has drawn fire from his opponent, Tom Reed of Corning:
“To me, holding town hall meetings, telling people to their face he’s listening and trying to get their input on health care so he can make an informed decision and not tell people he’s already made up his mind is disingenuous and misleading and extremely arrogant,” Reed said. “That’s the type of leadership we don’t need in the 29th Congressional District.”
Yes, I know, we expect this kind of rhetoric from the right. Their model is Randy Kuhl in the 29th, who had no interest in answering the questions of his constituents.
Eric, on the other hand, has reached out at every opportunity to listen to what his constituents have to say. He has made himself accessible to those who agree and those who disagree.
Yep, Tom, this is just the kind of leadership we need in the 29thbv. Really, who’s being disingenuous here ?
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I have a auto industry analogy about giving people what they want vs. what they need. But first I’ll comment and say that the people protesting cannot possibly know what the want because all they have to go on is lies and misinformation which they hold as the honest truth. At least someone–Mr. Massa–knows what’s what.
So, on the the auto analogy. It is somewhat well known in automotive circles the strange and now sad story of the development of the Pontiac Aztek. Not sure how or why this vehicle was developed this way but it was. GM used “consumer clinics” extensively. Average consumers were invited to view prototypes and drive test vehicles. After which they were ask to comment and offer suggestions for changes and improvements. GM truly wanted this vehicle to be developed by the people and for the people. The resulting vehicle–the Aztek–is now legendary for what a “bad idea” is in Detroit. Too many hands in the pot. When you combine everything that people want, you literally get a mess.
To continue, I’ll talk about my car the original design of the Scion xB. This vehicle was never intended for the US. And few would every imagine that a totally square box on wheels would sell. But Toyota created a good car–and all anyone really needs is a good car. So it is light weight, fun to drive, being boxy it is extremely roomy and it is very fuel efficient. Sadly, Toyota did what GM did with the Aztek when they redesigned the xB. Toyota asked consumers what they wanted. In a very American tradition of bigger is better, the new xB is 15 inches longer, 700 pounds heavier, has a much larger engine and gets horrible gas mileage. Again, giving people what they want is NOT always a good thing. Now I’m just rambling….
Your analogy is exactly why Nobel Laureate F.A. Hayek described the free-market and competition as a discovery process. The unwanted choices fall to the wayside, while the beneficial ones flourish. There is not always enough information, or good information, to develop the optimal product. Trial and error, and sometimes accidents, are needed.
Regarding Massa knowing what he wants, he only thinks he does. If he gets it, chances are pretty good that he will be sorely disappointed once the unintended consequences sink in.
Overall, my point was this…legislators have three options in most cases.
1. Do nothing
2. Pass legislation no matter how bad it is
3. Pass truly good legislation
Right now, a room full out people such as those in Victor, if we listen to them, would lead us down the wrong path because they are operating on misinformation and really, really bad assumptions.
I trust someone like Eric Massa to know better than that room full of people what needs to be done and what to do to get it done. And Eric is not by any stretch of the imagination perfect, but he was 1 out of 1000 who always expressed knowledgeable and accurate information.
Below are the lyrics of a Glenn Frey song. I think Glenn was sitting in the auditorium of Victor High School on Wednesday enjoying the comments of the crowd.
I’VE GOT MINE
Someone’s sleeping on the sidewalk
As the winter sun goes down
Someone’s drinking cold champagne
In another part of town
And the only thing he thinks about
As he sips his glass of wine
“It sure feels good sittin’ here tonight
Now that I’ve got mine”
I’ve got mine, I’ve got mine
This isn’t such a bitter world
‘Cause I’ve got mine
Someone’s wandering the streets tonight
No way to warm his hands
Someone’s turning up their fireplace
Making travel plans
His mind is on some sandy beach
Where the sun is gonna shine
He thinks, “I don’t have to hang around
Now that I’ve got mine”
You see them in their limousines
You see the way they stare
They don’t see us looking back
Because they don’t really care,
They say,
“I’ve got mine, I’ve got mine
The world is as it’s meant to be
‘Cause I’ve got mine”
So I make a small donation
What more can I do?
You know I didn’t make this world
I’m in it just like you
I’ve worked all my life on this house of cards
To keep it all in line
I can’t take care of everyone
Now that I’ve got mine
There’s another kind of poverty
That only rich men know
A moral malnutrition
That starves their very souls
And they can’t be saved by money
They’re all running out of time
And all the while they’re thinking,
“It’s OK, ’cause I’ve got mine”
I’ve got mine, I’ve got mine
I don’t want a thing to change
‘Cause I’ve got mine, I’ve got mine
The cynical lyrics do not take into account the plethora of people who would voluntarily help others and open their doors to them. That is if they are allowed to posses the resources necessary.
And your comment doesn’t take into account the fact that they have the resources now, and it’s not getting done. I’m sure there are many rich people out there, like yourself, who are good hearted and do their best to help those who don’t have enough, but there are many who are not. This is like expecting the insurance industry to do the right thing and cover everything that they promised to cover. Not gonna happen. They like those 2million dollar salaries toooooo much.
What’s life like in Fairyland, Mike WNT?
I guess you would know life in fairyland, it is full of emotional appeals and false assumptions, much like your comments. BTW, what is your threshold for being a “rich person” and what basis do you have for thinking I am one?
Well, again, my comments are primarily about the room full of people in Victor. With all their interruptions and rudeness, they had ample opportunity to express even a slight bit of concern for their fellow man and those less fortunate than themselves. They did not. When I posted the lyrics to I’ve Got Mine, I could not have found a better song to express the general attitude of the people who filled the auditorium of Victor High School. As a proud American, those people embarrassed the hell out of me. And did those people have the means and opportunity to help others?? As I mentioned in another post, the line of cars flowing into the parking lot were more likely those headed to opening night of the opera than a town hall meeting. Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, repeat…Those people have the means to help. They just don’t have the care or concern to want to help. With them, and you could have asked them because I’m sure they would have been proud to admit it, it was all ME, ME, ME.
The basis for my position on health care is fixing the current system so that it works best for everyone. The only system is that will accomplish that is one with lower costs that neither stifles innovation nor creates shortages of supply. The only way to accomplish that is through robust competition combined with real choices for individuals and restored cost accountability. As long as the purveyance of health care is perceived as free, either government care or 3rd party payer systems (HMO’s), that will never happen.
I wonder what Mr. Reed’s response would be if we asked him about his position on health care reform. Can he have one if he hasn’t heard from his prospective constituents? And perhaps we should ask him if he would change his position if a majority of constituents wanted reform.
There’s nothing more dogmatic than a dogmatist.
The neo-liberal polices that folks like Hayek championed have caused literally catastrophe in this county. Since the dogmatist is sure his model is correct there can be no dis-confirming evidence.
Well we all know one thing for sure…health care for all does NOT exist in America and that needs to be fixed.
Substitute John Maynard Keynes for Hayek, and progressive for dogmatist, and your statement will be 100% accurate.