I’ve been spending a lot of time criticizing the critics of health care insurance reform lately and even dismissed a long time friend over his callous attitude towards a very sensitive topic.

Last night I found myself actually saying things like “I’m not really this liberal.”  And I’m not…fiscally I’ve typically sided much more with conservatives than democrats (it’s the religious right I tend to disagree with most).  I donate to the CATO institute.  I’ve read everything Ayn Rand’s ever written, and even met my (now ex) wife at an Ayn Rand conference.

I welcome debate, when it’s debate…informed,  reasoned…even passionate.  But when debate gets drowned out by noise, lies, fear mongering and screams, I have no tolerance.   I hear Palin scream “death panels” and I feel obligated to point as big of a digital finger as I can at her and  scream back, “MORON!”.

But there are reasonable arguments against the proposed health care reform.  Personally I’d like to see a  system that greatly reduces the financial incentives for insurance and drug companies to prey on sick people.  I’d like a system that can’t exclude anyone and doesn’t drop you in the event a serious illness.  Basically I want a system like our roads, our fire departments, or our public parks:  safe, efficient, affordable and always there.  Unfortunately it doesn’t sound like that’s what we’re getting.

According to Bob Herbert, “With the public pretty well confused about what is going on, we’re headed — at best — toward changes that will result in a lot more people getting covered, but that will not control exploding health care costs and will leave industry leaders feeling like they’vehit the jackpot.”

Read his whole not-so-happy column here:  Op-Ed Columnist – This Is Reform? – NYTimes.com.