Vote! Who should be on the Wheaties’ box? http://twtpoll.com/a086q6
It was the ultimate crescendo of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics: the USA v. Canada’s skate for the Men’s Gold Medal Hockey title. By any estimation, it an exciting game, especially at the 00:24.4 mark.
But the game-time dialog by game-time prognosticators and then by post-game armchair analysts with keyboards shows the migration between spirited opinions and vitriol. Who knew that the much anticipated Winter Olympics Men’s Hockey finale was really a referendum on US Healthcare Reform? The slippery slope extended far beyond the snow-covered Alpine downhill courses at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and went straight to the halls of the US Congress.
Q: Did the US or Canada “win” the 2010 Winter Olympics?
@jeffschmuck: Canada – most gold medals ever won by a country at the Olympics. Yep, we’re the best.
shepdiz: I’m not really into Olympics, but I’m glad USA won most medals ever in history of Winter Olympics! Boo socialism! Yay freedom & capitalism!
WSAU: Winter Olympics are over. USA had most medals: 9-gold, 15-silver, 13-bronze; but Germany, Canada had more gold
Q: Was Team USA’s Silver Medal in Hockey (men’s or women’s) a referendum on US healthcare?
@OTOOLEFAN : Hey Canada: You may have beat us in hockey, but our health care system…oh wait… Nevermind. Kudos. #hcr #p2
@Futfanatico Ice hockey requires the broadest of shoulders and a will of cast iron. Public healthcare produces neither.
ZachWiIson: I don’t care. We have better healthcare. Good luck getting to a dentist in Canada. That and hockey shall make them a toothless nation.
@JustinFarley: Do you know why #Canada is so good at #hockey? Two words: “government” and “healthcare.”(no room 4politics in #Olympics)
@jdonels: I feel sorry for Cana-duh and their crappy public option #hcr. I am willing to let them have their gold medal. #tcot #hockey #tlot #usa
@Joy__Hart: Now #Canada beat us twice first with #healthcare. And now in #hockey! #hcr #hc10 #p2 #olympics
skooks: If you’re thinking about making a joke connecting Olympic hockey and national healthcare, please know you are not the first.
And yours truly: @loringbarnes Separate the #Olympics hockey outcome from #HCR. #US taxpayers spend $93M on Congressional salaries alone, but they aren’t doing their jobs.
Q: Can we find common ground? Can we agree on some facts?
TruthCry: So pleased US won the most Winter Olympic overall medals (ever), while our gracious host neighbor Canada won the most gold medals (ever)!
Kate_U: Awesome Winter Olympics, North America! Canada most gold medals & Team USA with most overall medals in a single winter Olympics
hurricanedc: Apparently Canada got the most gold medals! And the US got the most medals overall! Hehe, love being Canadian by law and American at heart.
There are communications lessons in the success of Team USA that appear timely for the US Congress:
1) Be good sports.
2) Always play by the rules.
3) Work as a team.
4) There can be winners and winners.
5) Do more with less.
6) Competition is healthy.
7) Engage us citizens, we’re not spectators.
The Winter Olympics’ cross-border friendly bravado contrasts sharply with the polarization and partisanship that is defining the important issue of fair, transparently constructed, American healthcare reform. But unlike the Olympics: healthcare reform is no game.
Hearty congratulations to Canada, both as warm hosts and terrific athletes. Hurrah Team USA! You did us very proud. US Congress, are you listening?
P.S.: Which #US #WinterOlympics athlete will be on the @Wheaties_Fuel cereal box?
VOTE HERE (view the tally): http://twtpoll.com/a086q6