We Listen – Your Comments 8/25/2009

Editor's Note: The former AARP member arguing against the Obama administration’s health care proposal garnered the most attention on Tuesday’s American Morning, with the majority angered that only one side of the argument was presented.

• Linda R.: It is unbelievable how many elderly "conservatives" are misinformed about the president's healthcare proposals. They are against it, simply because they perceive it to be a "liberal" plan. They don't like Obama, they don't know the facts, and worst of all, they are not aware that social security and Medicare are government programs, from which they benefit because of......"liberals"!!
• Shawn: These seniors turning in their AARP cards says nothing. When they start turning in their Medicare cards and start buying private insurance for there principles then they are saying something. Did they ever think that by bringing in younger healthier people it will sure up the system and save it.
• Joan: Why didn't someone tell Bonnie the anti-AARP person who opposes a single-payer system that what she has is a single-payer system. Obviously, admittedly she is a Republican therefore no health care reform passed by Democrats would be OK with her. Why do you continue to put these ill-informed people the opportunity to spread misinformation?
• Jane: I watched the AARP interview this morning with interest. An AARP recording was left on my answering machine on Friday, July 17th. It asked members (we are not members) to call their House representative at no change, 800-211-0907. to support the health care bill. The recording said that the bill would make a huge difference to AARP members and their families. The recording sounds to me like they support the bill; however, on TV this morning, AARP gave a different impression.

As one of the largest senior lobbying group in the United States, do you believe that AARP will play an important role in the acceptance or rejection of President Obama’s proposed health care plan? Should the organization be neutral, or choose a specific stance on this issue?

Bloggers were equally divided about the libel issue and blogger, with those opposed to anonymity arguing that “libel is against the law,” and those in favor of privacy suggesting that “controversial” opinion should have protections.

• Sharon: I fully support the prosecution of a blogger who posts lies. Libel is against the law and citizens should not be able to get away with this. When there is evidence of libel, they should not be able to remain anonymous. Lying on blogs and through email campaigns is rampant and hurts many people. There needs to be some recourse. If the wealthy and/or famous can make examples of a few who do this, I am all for that. Now, what can we do about those who write or forward untrue emails with no source for the information just to defeat political candidates or malign a movement such as the health care reform? So many people just read these things and take them for truth, passing the poison pen things along! And, what can we do about TV commercials that spew untrue "information" about the health care reform.
• Thom: Re: Blogger v. Google, I operate a small community web forum, with the same world wide web access Google has, but with a lot fewer readers (1900+ members). The ability to anonymously opinion, even controversial and angry speech, has long been a cornerstone of our society. On our small, insignificant forum alone, we have messages that one could consider hateful speech about a number of public celebrities, from Al
• Sharpton to Michael Vick, from President Obama to Mel Gibson. If we, as US citizens, lose the right to publicly and anonymously express our most intense and controversial thoughts, our system of government and our society will suffer. When the President of the United States can unmask an anonymous critic, because he/she thinks the speech is mean spirited, we have lost something very special that most other countries don't have.

With blogging a largely unregulated forum of discussion, are greater restrictions necessary to prevent libel? Tell us your thoughts.