Odd Citizen
An Odd Citizen’s Search For Vanishing Freedoms

Nov

8

Split the Country?

Filed Under Liberty, Suggestions, Uncategorized

Yesterday afternoon and evening I spent hours upon hours listening to CSPAN’s broadcast debate and vote on the Pelosi health care legislation from both parties. In addition to having my eyes glaze over after the 999th uttering of “the gentleman from” and “the distinguished gentlemen” it was hard to discern the purpose of the speeches. Each side, with few exceptions, repeated talking points, over and over again. In one speech with substance, that of John Boehner, the Republican leader, sections of the bill were cited specifically and criticized. Interestingly enough, the chairman had to issue the order “Members will take seats and cease conversation.” It was equivalent to my old math teacher shouting “Shut up and sit down!”

The overwhelming lesson of the evening after a 220 to 215 vote to adopt the Democrat’s measure was one of complete division. Only one Republican voted for the bill. Between that and the obvious disconnect of speeches it was as if the two parties represented two separate countries.

The Democrats argued that “the poor,” “the children,” “the uninsured,” “the disadvantaged,” “the working poor,” etc. required the intervention of government to protect them from the rapacious insurance companies and medical profiteers that threatened them with an early death for lack of “affordable” health care coverage. One representative got up and said (lightly paraphrasing), “Most people aren’t responsible enough to buy their own health insurance, so the government must do it for them.”

The Republicans argued that the bill would destroy a working health care system, bankrupt the country, and destroy a freedom we all enjoy, the ability to control our own health care. They further observed that the 1,990 page bill would impose onerous regulations, high taxes, and vast new bureaucracies. They offered a simpler bill aimed at what they consider the root causes of high medical costs. That bill was promptly defeated. Five-minutes were allowed for this vote. (An anti-abortion amendment to the Democrat’s bill was given a 15-minute vote window — I wonder why?)

With all the talk, I didn’t hear a single representative ask the two questions that matter most. 1) What Constitutional provision permits the Federal Government to take over the health care industry? and 2) Do the American people really want government control of their personal health care?

The divisions are so deep and fundamental that maybe the country should split into two or more entities, one socialist and the other free.

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