Preface – I have never felt sufficiently impressed or represented enough by either political party (i.e. Republican or Democratic) to affiliate with them. Given what I’ve witnessed in the last several years, it seems doubtful that I ever will.
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Yesterday’s (03/21/2010) “historic” vote on the Health Care reform bill was no doubt a pinnacle in what is fast becoming an unprecedented chapter in American politics. Never has such a sweeping change to the fundamental role of government, in deference to the people, been set in motion with so little forethought and with so little actual agreement among the people and the government officials who were purportedly elected to represent them. Regardless of where a person might stand on the issue of Health Care reform, the handling of this legislation ought to alarm every American.
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Our government was constructed with a built-in system of checks and balances to ensure that no one branch of the government could get in a position to leverage the others, or more importantly, to leverage the people themselves. By all appearances, that system was successfully circumvented yesterday. This comes on the heels of a season of unabashed political pandering, as the Executive branch cajoled, coerced and flat out bribed members of the Legislative branch, until they had just enough votes to ram-rod this measure through, under provisions never intended for this type of legislation. For those who would argue that the ends somehow justify the means, I would suggest a quick study of world history. Power corrupts and a government that knows it can successfully leverage the people will struggle to resist that temptation.
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If this Health Care reform bill is a genuine, well conceived piece of legislation, then why weren’t experts from the Health Care system more integrally involved in its construction; why couldn’t there have been more open debate and congressional hearings on its actual provisions (as opposed to the constant political rhetoric that never really touched on the substance of the bill); why did so much of this process have to happen behind closed doors; why was the bill never really solidified or opened to public scrutiny before it was rushed to a vote; why did so many members of the legislature have to get special provisions (i.e. be bribed) to vote for it and why was it necessary to pass it without a clear majority?
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It’s not clear whether this bill will actually improve the quality of health care for those who are currently uninsured or how it will impact those who currently have insurance. Those who would claim to know otherwise are at the very least deceiving themselves. What is clear is that our government is about to get bigger and more involved in our day to day affairs. Anyone who deals with our government on a regular basis will likely shudder at that thought. We also know that we will pay more in taxes, because despite all of the political double talk, our government only has one real source for income. I believe that another conclusion we can draw from all of this is that we now have a government who feels justified in ignoring the voice of people to achieve their own political ends. As House Democrats sang, “Yes We Can!” and patted themselves on the back yesterday, I can say that it was truly “historic”.
Bjcorbin's Blog 
Yes Bryan, as usual you raise some rather disturbing thoughts. Only 47 short years ago another President was quoted as saying, “of the people, by the people and for the people.” We have come so far from where we were then in 47 very short years. American has truly changed, but NOT for the better. In answer to another President(slightly paraphrased), “NO we are NOT better than we were before this administration took office.” I truly think the founding fathers of this nation would have set down and wept at the “historical” event on Sunday. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANTED TO PREVENT WHEN FORMING THIS UNION. They wanted “to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” THAT was NOT accomplished in this vote! Yes Bryan, aptly put and I agree with you.
Hi, i just thought i’d post and let you know your blogs layout is really messed up on the K-Melon browser. Anyhow keep up the good work.
Bryan – Although I am totally less than thrilled with the health care bill I, too, was much more upset over the selling-out of our form of government. How said that democracy can be bought and sold so easily when such a high price was paid for it in the beginning.