VICTORY’S MASQUERADE – PART I

I have taken this week to consider all that I have seen in the passing of the health care bill. I watched what we called “debate” on C-SPAN, I listened to pundits on both sides of  the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148), and paid attention to the speeches eager to find glimpses of political reason.

Now that it is law, I hope Americans discovered what I did:

1.) Victory in this case had nothing to do with party affiliations. The G.O.P. was clearly on the losing side. That does not imply the wrong side, mind you, but they were the obvious minority. The Left’s opposition were not the Republicans. They had been rendered politically impotent. The meaningful party of "no" was comprised of Democrats. The opposing voices were members of their own party and the vast majority of America’s citizens who did not want the all-encompassing scope of this bill to become law. The popping of the champagne corks proclaiming victory came at the cost of—and in the faces of—their own party members and the voting constituency they swore an oath to represent. Let the reader beware.

2.) Opposition is irrelevant. It became quite clear that political reason and political integrity was abandoned for expediency. Circumventing convention and due process to pass a bill at any cost has proven that those in power will do whatever it takes to achieve their agenda. Their oath to uphold the constitution meant—and means—nothing. If there was a way around doing things conventionally, it was (and will) be exploited. Let the reader beware.

3.) The legislative branch is being neutered. Once a person or a government body walks down the path of compromise, driving them down that road becomes easier and easier until it becomes commonplace. The House and Senate have taken the walk on the dark side, stretching the purpose of reconciliation beyond its intent to appease the president. They circumvented the system, the checks and balances, and threw their reputations under the bus. This will not be the last time. Expect the White House to crack the whip more, forcing Pelosi and Reid onto that road again and again, until Neutered Street intersects with Irrelevancy Avenue. Patriots beware.

Political Reason will pick up with PART II, so check back soon.