Fear freezes minds, but opens lungs

In any discussion, you can be pretty sure that when the volume goes up, the  level of thinking plummets. So it seems obvious from all the shouting coming out of the health-care-reform town-hall meetings that quite a few Americans have surrendered their brains to their all-conquering emotions and, like babies, are throwing tantrums in hopes of panicking the remaining adults into doing what they want them to do. 

Which is nothing. Nothing new, anyway.

And why? I refer you to the three smartest and most honest words I’ve heard anyone say so far about why some people oppose revising our messed-up health system or revising anything at all:

“Fear of change.” 

Toby Cosgrove said that.  He’s a physician and head of the Cleveland Clinic, but I don’t think it takes a medical degree for the rest of us to understand the psychology he cites. People frequently resist the unknown. The unfamiliar scares us. We want to be in control of our situations at all times so we don’t get 1) eaten; 2) humiliated; or 3) trapped into making a speech. We don’t wanna try the slimy green glop, even though Mom says it’s only pea soup and we actually like peas.

 Trouble is, fear of the new means you’re too afraid to be creative. And so you’re stuck with whatever you’ve already got, no matter how awful it is. But some people actually choose being stuck. They say they prefer the devil they know to the devil they don’t, totally ignoring the likelihood that their bad situation won’t stay the same, but get even worse if neglected. 

Our ultimate problem is, therefore, not getting health care and health insurance to be affordable and available to anyone who needs them, although that’s a biggie. Our real problem is how to get people to stop being afraid of the changes required by creative thinking and action. 

And how the heck do you do that?

I think the long-term answer is a better and more creative educational system, one that encourages imaginative thinking and develops the skills of invention – in math, arts, sciences, engineering, physical education, everything - in every student. One that helps people overcome their fear of the unknown and learn to relish the adventure. If we turn out people who are more creative, confident, calm and courageous, we’ll be able to fix a lot more of what’s wrong  with the world. And without all the shouting. 

But we’re no likelier to sensibly and effectively overhaul our educational system than our health-care industry, at least right now.  Maybe what we have to start with is only this: a determination to keep our public discourse civil. If we insist on tougher and better-enforced rules about disruptions and raised voices in public meetings; an organized array of impartial fact-checkers and debunkers, such as nonpartisan panels of experts sponsored by nonprofit organizations, to immediately counter outrageous propaganda with facts; and a pledge from all elected officials to set an example by listening, thinking and by speaking quietly when – and only if – they have something constructive to say,  the national tone will moderate, tempers will subside and usable ideas will develop.

Usually, it takes a world war to get Americans working together for the public good.  If we try, we might be able to convince ourselves that a prosperous peace is worth the same effort.