Thoughts on Healthcare

As I returned to my fraternity on Sunday night after a Wabash Conservative Union meeting, I pondered over what could happen in the next 60-90 minutes. Here’s what I came up with:

1. Democrats in the House could exert full political force and pass the Healthcare legislation without batting an eye, possibly by 35 or 40 votes.

2. Some Democrats and all Republicans would realize that Americans don’t want this bill and the vote would be close.

3. Bart Stupak wouldn’t buy the (false) notion that President Barack Obama would cut federal funding for abortion from the bill. He then, along with the pro-life bloc of Democrats in the House would do America a favor and vote “nay.”

Alas, my second thought came true. 219-212 in favor of Obamacare. With 6 minutes remaining in the vote a sense of false hope came over me when I realized only 8 more Democrats needed to vote “nay” if Republicans stayed the course. The GOP did their part. If only 4 more Democrats could have.

Monday was not a very pleasant day. The thought of worse health coverage at higher prices just didn’t see to make me feel better.

Today, Barack Obama signed this legislation into law. While the fact that I live in a worse America at this moment than I did 3 days ago makes my blood boil, I do, now hold a hope that is not false. Barack Obama promised hope and change. He has delivered change. Bad change, but change. Now I have hope. My hope is not for better healthcare. Once the effects of this law are seen it will take years for America’s health system to again become the greatest the world has ever seen. No, my hope is not for social equality or that this bill results in a better America. My hope is that this bill results in a better government!

Before this legislation passed, polls had many House and Senate Democrats trailing Republican challengers. This bill will undoubtedly worsen poll numbers for the left. Last week, Republicans had hope of making the Senate nearly split down the middle and cutting the deficit in the House in half. Today, the party of Lincoln, Reagan and the non-socialist (Teddy) Roosevelt has majority in the Senate and being only a few seats in the minority in the House in sight. Who would’ve thought that we’d ever see a midterm turnaround like that of 2006? And here we are, 4 years down the road, and we could see a repeat of 1994. That’s where my hope comes from.

A personally note to the “leader” of our (once) great nation:

Mr. President,

I heard you countless times during the past few months exclaim that health reform hadn’t occurred in decades, maybe even a century. That’s because Americans didn’t want it. Americans still don’t want it. You shoved it down our throats. For this, your comrades on the Hill, and most likely you in 2012 will pay for it. You did NOT listen to your constituents. You held them in contempt. You think that we have no power. Sir, we gave you power. You have grown the government to a size that impedes on our daily lives. You had an agenda that you would push at all costs. Well, the cost will be your job. This November your parts of your power will be stripped when we remove your enablers from office. Then, two years from now, you will be fired.

Your numbers are dropping, support is slipping. Prepare to become a lame duck president. You’re well on your way. Better yet, prepare to be only the ceremonial head of state, because that’s what happens when 65-75% of the country hates the President’s agenda. Congratulations on your passing of healthcare. May you go down in history as the man who destroyed the greatest healthcare system in the world and who threatened capitalism and democracy.

And thank you for giving me hope, just like you said you would. I hope that your partners in crime are enjoying their last months in Washington. I hope that the next President is wiser than you. And I hope that you get a permanent vacation in November 2012.

Sincerely,

A GOP Vote

Related posts:

• Scott Brown’s “Miracle”: A Promise, a Commercial, and the Campaign that Led Him to Victory
• November: An Opportunity for Transformation?
• You Lie! The Case for Politically Incorrect Debate
• A Glimmer of Hope: Taking the Last Stand to Really Fix Healthcare
• The Healthcare Debate Simplified