Fear and loathing

Fellow travelers, for me it's no surprise the health care reform debate is grabbing headlines and creating controversy. This is perhaps the most far reaching and important legislation many of us will see in our lifetime. The health care reform bills working their way through our legislature have the potential to effect every American citizen in one form or another. Millions of Americans who have no access to meaningful health care would be covered. Millions more who are paying extortionate health insurance rates would see their burdens eased. This program would not be without cost. Let's face it: we will see taxes raised in a variety of forms if this bill passes. These are all valid points and should be raised in the public debate. There are valid arguments to be made on both sides of this issue. The eventual form any law would take should be open to vigorous debate and end in bi-partisan compromise. Sadly, that will not be the case with this legislation. The Grand Old Party, the party of Lincoln, Eisenhower and Reagan, has surrendered to it's fringe elements and lobbyists. Republican politicians have made a conscious choice to obstruct, rather than to join in this momentous process.

American politics have always been a contest between conflicting interest groups. Fundamental disagreement between political parties on many issues is to be expected and, in large part, is good for the country. That disagreement should foster the debate that keeps our government healthy and vigorous. Where then, is the alternative plan from the distinguished gentlemen of the right? Where is the Republican vision for the national health care system? Where is their proposed law, detailing the method by which we should, "promote the general welfare," as the preamble to the constitution so quaintly puts it?

As we all know, there isn't one. Rather than share an opposing vision, Republicans have closed ranks with the status quo. Their choice is to condemn the poor, the elderly and the disadvantaged to poor health, quality of life and increased risk of death. Unemployment rates are at a generational high. More American citizens than ever are in desperate need of health care reform. Doctors are prevented from treating patients the proper way because their decisions are controlled by accountants working for health insurance companies. Americans who could be saved, who could enjoy greater quality of life are being abandoned at the expense of large corporations with deep pockets who can pay for things like lobbyists and congressional junkets, but won't pony up for more frequent testing and treatment.

Not that our brothers on the right have been idle, mind you. Their level of activity has been frenzied, to say the least. They have been busy sowing fear and hatred with television appearances, conference calls and web commercials castigating moderates who feel the bill should at least see the Senate floor for debate. RNC Chairman Michael Steele defended this approach by saying the health care debate has been, "anything but open . . .anything but fair." This from the party who has threatened to filibuster the moment they are allowed to speak on the floor, quashing any hope for meaningful debate.

The sad fact for all Americans is, there are undoubtedly ways to improve this bill, to make it more efficient, less costly. There are undoubtedly lawmakers on the Republican side who could help to shape the debate in a meaningful way and bring these ways to light. They won't, though. They have all decided that party loyalty means more that loyalty to constituents, to the American people they have sworn to represent and to the American system of governance as a whole. They prefer to use the tactics of fear, threat, innuendo and exclusion. Their hypocrisy is mind numbing, but then, maybe that's what they're after. Perhaps they seek to drone on, spread fear, play on the fears of the under informed and delay until this whole messy idea goes away and they can accept another fat campaign donation from their corporate bed-mates. Here's hoping the American people holds every one of them accountable in the aftermath and display their loathing at the ballot box.