The value of dust

I have been researching universal health care for one of my classes. The US is unique in the developed world in that it is the only country not to have some form of universal healthcare. As a result of that, healthcare costs per capita are almost double that of any other nation. Even though the system is privatised, the government still spends more on healthcare than any other nation; costs come from programs for the dying and children among other crucial initiatives. In addition, 41 million people are uninsured, meaning that they cannot afford healthcare. This makes healthcare bills the number one reason for bankruptcy. And I could go on with more facts.
There are many proponents of universal health care in the country, but opponents are very good at kicking up dust. A privatised system allows more choice for the insured, and it means that you don't pay for other people's bad lifestyles. Other than that, there really isn't much of an advantage to the current system. These issues are mere dust when you look at the bigger picture: rising healthcare costs, patients that can't afford necessary treatment, the sick can't find insurance, etc.
But this dust is kicked up so well that American politicians are blinded and divided into party lines: republicans are against universal healthcare, democrats for. Republicans are in power, therefore healthcare will continue its downward spiral. Healthcare is not really on the agenda anyway; war and terror are what concerns Americans.

The best way to stop a process is to kick up dust. Not so long ago, the people were divided on slavery, racism and sexism. Now, far past the confusion of these eras, these practices are seen in a very negative light, regardless of party lines. If America decides to take care of its poor, it may be that it will never look back, but for now dust-kickers are stopping initiative.

And so it seems in every walk of life. Whenever a new idea comes forward, fear leads people to rationalise dust into boulders, and to expose it vehemently. Mathematician can cite risk and probabilities, but dust-kickers are expert statistic-bashers. I have seen it many times. I will give you data, you will cast doubt on it, and go back to kicking up dust, as if the data meant nothing. I see it when I go to congressional hearings. Data comes out, say on the Patriot Act, reporting abuses; opponents will ignore the facts, or if they can cast some doubt on it, and then will carry on kicking up dust, saying that the Act is very useful.

In democracies, dust-kickers rationalise their fears into small arguments, a process funded by sympathisers. Their role is frustrating but important: democracies are stable because they are slow. No one leader can change the system fast enough to achieve dictatorship if people keep on kicking up dust.

On the individual level, kicking dust makes less sense. One should take the time to consider arguments against one’s view, but one should give time for the dust to settle, and the vista to clear. After all, life is too short to be run democratically.