Anyone that knows anything about my politics has to know that there’s not much in this bill that I like. I’m a Conservative-Libertarian, and I’m going to oppose almost anything that increases the size of the State and decreases citizens liberty. This bill does both, and in a huge amount. This bill’s whole purpose is increased government control of our lives for one purpose: power. It’s not about helping people. If it does end up helping a small percentage of Americans, that’s an unintentional side effect. Anyone that thinks differently are pawns of those in power.
My strongest emotion to this whole debacle isn’t anger, though — it’s sadness. This countries leadership truly “crossed the Rubicon“, as Victor Davis Hanson says. This mess will make the last decade of “divisive politics” and “polarization” seem like singing Kumbaya by the campfire in comparison. Obama has proved himself to be one heck of a divider, and I don’t think this country can heal from this breach of trust for a long, long time. What’s the precedent set here? It’s that the winner in an election is given free reign to do whatever they think is right, regardless of the current will of the people. Expect to hear, “We won; get over it,” with each change in leadership, with greater and greater swings of abuses. From Megan McArdle over at The Atlantic:
Are we now in a world where there is absolutely no recourse to the tyranny of the majority? Republicans and other opponents of the bill did their job on this; they persuaded the country that they didn’t want this bill. And that mattered basically not at all. If you don’t find that terrifying, let me suggest that you are a Democrat who has not yet contemplated what Republicans might do under similar circumstances. Farewell, Social Security! Au revoir, Medicare! The reason entitlements are hard to repeal is that the Republicans care about getting re-elected. If they didn’t–if they were willing to undertake this sort of suicide mission–then the legislative lock-in you’re counting on wouldn’t exist.
So, if you’re cheering on this “historic accomplishment”, just remember that our government works on precedents, and the Democratic leadership set a huge one here, and not a good one.
Columbia Gorge Dispatch 