There is a general sense that the public has lost interest in healthcare reform. One reason is, as the president shared, everything that could be said has been said. Lost long ago in the arguments was the fundamental issue of whether or not that body that makes laws and has the power to imprison its subjects can be trusted to have sufficient expertise and ethics to centrally control healthcare concerns for all US citizens. Shortly into the debate, less entrenched opponents of limited government began to entertain distractions dangled in front of them. Local media made it sound like the public approved of healthcare managed by a centralized bureaucracy as long as abortions weren’t to be funded from the public treasury. Now, the issues seem focused on parliamentary rules. If Congress could just follow precedent, it wouldn’t matter how badly they ruined their country. The Hendersonville Times-News said the following about the current discourse.
Greg Newman, a Republican candidate for Congress, urged [Congressman Heath] Shuler to oppose the health care reform bill. He has argued in the past that Western North Carolina never knows where Shuler stands on an issue until after he votes.
Newman said he was surprised that Shuler is uncommitted on passing the Senate version of health care reform. He said many of Shuler’s caucus, the conservative Blue Dog Democrats, seem to switch votes at the last minute, depending on how many votes the leadership needs to pass a piece of legislation.
Even those who want to submit to mandatory screenings, broad-brushstroke diagnoses, protocols over judgment, public domain medical records, IRS oversight of healthcare, etc.; should recognize there are problems when Congress admits to not knowing what is or will be in the bill or when OFA tells people they have to support the bill because it will create a perfect society as long as one doesn’t request details. If puny man could really improve the human condition through volumes and volumes of typewritten do’s and don’ts, shouldn’t this country be better off for its 10,000 commandments?
