Obamacare: The politics

It has occurred to me after thinking some more about Saturday evening’s vote in the House to approve the Pelosi version of Obamacare, that there is far more to what happened than appears.

The polls clearly show that the American public is not overwhelming in favor of Obamacare.  Most Americans are relatively happy with their insurance, and, even those who are not, believe that Obamacare will not lower costs, will, in fact, increase costs, and will, more than likely, decrease the quality of care.  Americans are more concerned about the mounting deficit, and believe Obamacare will simply add to it.  They want jobs, not health care.

Last Tuesday’s election results in New Jersey and Virginia, regardless of the spin Democrats try to put on it, was a resounding indication that Americans do not like the direction in which Obama is taking this country.  The election has been viewed by many as a prophecy of what will come in 2010, particularly for those Democrats who cast a yes vote for the health care bill.  So, why then did so many Democrats vote for the bill, knowing full well that it would most assuredly cost them their jobs?

I believe they did it for the cause.  Much like the suicide bomber who knows he will lose his life, the cause becomes all that matters.  Or, like the Roman gladiator who threw himself on his sword at the emperor’s behest, the emperor was all that mattered.

This was an opportunity to take what was, to those Representatives, a very important step that would entrench this country in a leftist system from which it would be virtually impossible to extricate itself.  This was an opportunity to perpetuate a philosophy of government control of basic fundamental freedoms.  This was an opportunity to ensure that Americans no longer need take responsibility for their own lives, the government, knowing best, would do so for them.

What the American people thought of Obamacare, as well as the preservation of their congressional jobs, were of little moment to those voting yes.  They were representing neither you nor themselves.  They were throwing themselves on their swords for the cause.  To them, that was all that mattered.

Just a thought…I’m trying to explain what otherwise is totatally irrational behavior.

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SoundOffSister

The Sound Off Sister was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and special trial attorney for the Department of Justice, Criminal Division; a partner in the Florida law firm of Shutts & Bowen, and an adjunct professor at the University of Miami, School of Law. The Sound Off Sister offers frequent commentary concerning legislation making its way through Congress, including the health reform legislation passed in early 2010.

3 Comments

  1. sammy22 on November 9, 2009 at 12:17 pm

    WOW again: a country of  "happy" suicidal Representatives. I would not have envisioned that. Perhaps there are people who really believe that this is good. As to the contention that VA and NJ voters dumping the Democrat candidates, I rather think that it reflects the notion that politics are local.



  2. Dimsdale on November 9, 2009 at 2:11 pm

    I have to disagree just a bit, SOS.  They aren't suicide bombers.  They are more akin to the proverbial lemming leaping off a cliff (well, pushed, actually, by Disney and others.  But then, the Dems have Pelosi pushing them off the cliff……).  Stupid people vote for Dems, and quite frequently, stupid people become Dem reps.

     

    All politics are local, and when the feds start sticking their noses into state or city business, as they are doing now, people notice.  And act.



  3. human being on November 16, 2009 at 7:17 pm


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