Communication Battles

Right now in our country there is a no-holds barred communication battle going on over health care. Putting aside for a moment the fundamental issue itself, watching those who support reform and those who oppose it bang heads is painful to watch. Almost daily these days the news gives us images of people engaging in shoving matches and screaming bouts at events and meetings designed for anything but that kind of uncivil behavior. Granted, the prospect of health care for all citizens is complex. But when there are people who use fear, false information, and bullying tactics to promote their own perspectives, it only makes this entire issue more complicated. If ever there was a need for people to engage in effective communication in the form of even-handed and respectful dialogue, this is it. When communication is sabotaged, then everyone loses.

My hat goes off to those who are trying to engage in sessions of civil information exchange. Trying to be respectful is never easy when people with whom you are trying to connect behave in a blatantly disrespectful way. Who among us can communicate with even a degree of civility in a room of people who are screaming at you? The screamers and bullies are not interested in honest information exchange. They simply want to disrupt and shutdown those who are trying to approach this issue in a proper manner. Normally, I am not one to feel sorry for politicians, but seeing these officials struggling to maintain some level of discourse with those who want anything but that is a bit heart wrenching.

Those who disrupt should not be allowed to participate. Ultimately, communication only works when more than one person plays. For it to work best, then the participants need to want there to be dialogue. But when the primary goal of one or some of the participants is to disrupt, then communication is compromised. There is little point in carrying on. If the uncivil behavior continues, then the ultimate decision makers in Congress will be forced to make decisions with very little input from the voters. Only the lobbyists and special interests groups will have input into whatever decisions are made. If that happens, then once again the people will have failed the system and not the other way around. Communication is a tool and a damn good one when used properly.