The real tragedy of the healthcare "reform" is the loss of republican modesty (no I’m not talking about Country Clubs banning walking shorts). In a Republic those in office should be circumspect and modest about using their temporary power. The modest republican recognizes that we all live here together and achieving any goal by shoving it down the other side’s throat is counterproductive, tearing at the ties that bind us together and make us civilized.
If you have (temporary) power and abuse it to shove something down your neighbor’s throat, if you cheat to do so, cut corners, bend the rules, lie about the outcome. If you mock your neighbor and call him clever obscene names. Then you are creating a burning resentment, a humiliation in that neighbor. The neighbor begins to think about what he will do when the tables are turned. You abandoned republican modesty so he will too. You humiliated him, he’ll humiliate you. Arrogance begets arrogance, dishonesty begets dishonesty, cruelty begets cruelty.
In a very real sense Barak Obama, the “Constitutional Scholar" is in fact a constitutional vandal, tearing down our institutions and hard won consensus so that he could have his place in the history books.
I agree with what you are saying, but I warn you it was the argument of the so-called Gang of 14 (McCain's little group) before the days of super-majorities in the Senate. As maligned as John was for that effort, we just found out he was right.
ReplyDeleteAs to Obama, he risks being this generation's Alexander Kerensky. Who will follow is unclear, but it won't be good if this system collapses before we can put him to pasture.
I've always agreed with McCain's process arguments, usually not his policy.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that those days are over. One side can't be able to cheat while the other side doesn't. We need to cheat better and more than they or the country won't be here for our kids.