October12009
Health Care Reform. Or Whatever.
To say you missed the mark would imply that you were aiming for it. A false implication only strengthened by a simple, ironically “very American” attitude.
I will call this The Or Whatever Demeanor.
Real world example:
Person 1
“Hey, man. Crazy Town is openin’ up for LFO later this month. We should go, man. Shit’s nuts, man.”
Person 2
-“Yeah. For sure, man. I’ll just buy the tickets online. Or whatever. And you can pay me back.”
(or)
*ALTERNATE RESPONSE:
-“Yeah. For sure, man. I’ll just buy the tickets online. And you can pay me back. Or whatever.”
Now, ignore - if you will - the repeated use of “man” and focus, instead, on the distinctly different, though equally powerful uses of the phrase “or whatever.”
When Person 2 suggests purchasing the concert tickets online, then pairs this suggestion with “or whatever,” Person 1 could understandably infer an oddly immediate reversal of that very suggestion. Or at least a premature admittance for the high possibility of eventually “bailing out” on Person 1. Last minute, of course.
In the *alternate response scenario, Person 2 sounds confident in his own ticket purchase suggestion. However, his faith in the financial punctuality of his friend Person 1 seems to be somewhat nonexistent, thanks to the dangling “or whatever” at the end of the sentence.
Try this at home:
When telling your girl and/or boyfriend and/or wife and/or husband and/or friend that you love them, follow this declaration with a quick “Or whatever.” See what happens.
If you happen to be a preacher, open your prayers with “Dear God, Who Art in Heaven. Or whatever.”
If you are cursed to the minimum wage bowels of retail sales as a form of employment, tell each customer their total purchase amount. Followed quickly, of course, by a joyful “Or whatever.”
“Or Whatever” in action:
On September 9, 2009; I didn’t see revolution in those eyes. I didn’t see promises or empathy. I saw eyes I’ve seen before. “Or whatever” eyes.
“The public option is only a means to that end – and we should remain open to other ideas that accomplish our ultimate goal.”
Translation:
“You know, it’d be cool to get this reform thing under my belt. The braggin’ rights, however ill-conceived, would be straight bitchin’.
So, yeah. I want health care reform. Or whatever.”
Quick. Someone change the poster from HOPE to GROPE.
Dude’s not putting out. Tease and tease with no release.
I mean, really - nice work. While herds of Rush Limbots traipsed around drunk on racism, Glenn Beck juice, and sheer ignore, you just stood by in relative silence.
We just stood by and watched the parade.
How American.
Or whatever.
Tags: /Trace-William-Cowen /Trace William Cowen /tracewilliamcowen /Writing /Writer /Written /Art /Arts /Pop /Word /Words /Health care /Healthcare /Healthcare reform /reform /Barack-Obama /Barack Obama /Obama /US /USA /Life /More /What
July112009
"I had a terrific office in a high-rise building in Philadelphia..."
(full interview at Bill Moyers Journal)
Daily Kos also has a nice breakdown
—
From Michael Moore’s website:
This interview
“…will expose for the first time the health insurance industry’s secret campaign against Michael Moore and his film, “Sicko.” It contains a stunning revelation and admission by a top health insurance executive — the former head of publicity for CIGNA, one of the top health insurance companies in the country — that the disinformation and attacks on Michael and the film were extensive and well-planned. Their job was to stop the movie from reaching a wide audience (and, more importantly, from having the widespread political impact the industry feared “Sicko” would have). Wendell Potter, former Head of Corporate Communications at CIGNA (which provides health insurance to nearly 70 percent of the Fortune 100 companies) admits that, in fact, “Sicko” “hit the nail on the head” and told the real truth about how much better people in other countries have it when it comes to their health care…”
—
If, by chance, you’ve never seen “Sicko,” then go ahead and Netflix it, Amazon it, or even just watch it for free.
NOTE: Please share these links and videos with everyone you know.
Tags: /Trace William Cowen /tracewilliamcowen /and more /American Why /America /Health care /health care reform /healthcare reform /healthcare /Sicko /Michael Moore /Bill Moyers /Wendell Potter /Disgusted /Disgusting
