Howie Carr list ping. Crybabies in Ipswich object to Fox News on the TVs
Here is the original letter, which someone reproduced in the comments section of the article (”The Ipswich Y has brought the rants and irrationality of Fox News and Glenn Beck into the work-out room. His program is now boycotted by at least 36 advertisers”)
To the editor:
This country is currently engaged in one of the most important national conversations of our time —how we should together address the many things that are wrong with our current health-care and health-insurance systems. The key issues are that there be a thorough review and consideration of possible options, and that we identify a system that can provide health insurance and health care to everyone. Local health-related institutions such as the Ipswich YMCA can play an important role in informing members on the issues and options, such as incentive payments for health-care membership and use.
Moving toward sensible health coverage is going to need to happen one person at a time. There has been thoughtful opposition to the current proposals, and discussions of these issues will enhance the eventual outcome. There has also been heated and thoughtless haranguing in some media, most notably Fox News, and in the town-hall meetings held by Congressional representatives this summer. Glenn Beck of Fox News has been particularly active in both ranting on his own television program, and encouraging others to do likewise.
The key issues in the angry exchanges seem to be “rationing of health care” (denying it to people based on characteristics – thus the Nazi charge of practicing race-cleansing) and “death panels” (discussions of end-of-life choices with physicians). These issues have been used to pump people’s fear into frenzy.
In fact, the United States is the only developed western country that rations health care by an individual’s ability to pay. The U.S. has 45.7 million people under the age of 65 with no health care coverage based on ability to pay, while single-payer countries have much higher rates of coverage. The international organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has 30 member countries that are generally westernized nations. All but three have single-payer health care – Mexico, Turkey and the U.S.
Fox News has made itself ubiquitous. In many places you go where there are TVs (and there are more than ever), Fox News is on. The Ipswich YMCA (Ipswich Y) is one such place. The Ipswich Y has brought the rants and irrationality of Fox News and Glenn Beck into the work-out room. His program is now boycotted by at least 36 advertisers, including AT&T, Procter and Gamble, and Wal-Mart. Yet members of the Ipswich Y who show up to work on their health and conditioning, are exposed to angry diatribes even Wal-Mart rejects. When the TV’s were introduced last year, requests were made by active members to not program Fox News in the work-out room, yet Fox News is still on. The YMCA’s mission is still the same — “The Y is a feeling of trust and caring, where building character and values are priority #1. All YMCA members experience a sense of belonging and ownership that can’t be duplicated. The benefits of membership abound! We have a value-added membership that promises to get you healthy, keep you fit and help you achieve an overall healthy lifestyle.”
We remain concerned that the “unhealthy” debate on health care and health insurance is being abetted by organizations such as our own Ipswich Y that, despite its own stated mission, perpetuates access to the airwaves and audiences of some of the most negative elements of the health-care discussion. This is not a case of freedom of speech — this is a member organization with a stated mission that is directly opposed to the ranting that it imposes on members.
All of the exercise equipment face the TV’s. With scrolling headlines and angry expressions, no one in the exercise room can ignore the programming on the TV’s. Making a personal choice to not watch the TV is impossible. Even if it were, the fact that the Ipswich Y is still supporting the airing of angry, non-sensical debate, is still at odds with the organization’s mission.
If a survey were done and most members wanted Fox News on, then those of us who find this unacceptable would have to make new choices. Until then, the Ipswich YMCA should join Wal-Mart and others and remove the hate speech from our health space.
Carolyn Britt
Nancy Popp
Maria Wilkins
Patrick Patterson