As we watch the events of the past 6 weeks — the flawed rollout of Obamacare and the resulting rhetorical responses — the opportunists who partisanly pounce on perceived Armageddonish, administrative activity — and the loyalists who adhere blindly to minimizing or even dismissing the negativity — I struggle with how to discuss this well.
As said, I believe the Affordable Care Act makes government too big, costs too much, and allows for too much potential corruption. There are better ways to care for those in need of affordable health insurance, as a one-size-fits-all insurance policy does not actually fit all.
Let me repeat, too, that I am disturbed at the unprecedented enactment, as no law of this economic magnitude has been previously passed without at least some bipartisan support. This isn’t a game. More than one point, one vote, or one run-batted-in should be necessary to enact such major legislation. However, Pres. Obama advocated and executed this approach, and I thus respectfully hold him responsible.
I’ve learned, however, from my thoughtful friends who consistently camp on a distinct side of the partisan aisle that when a like scenario unfolds, many lose respect and trust in our nation’s leaders. Many, for example, lost trust in Bush 43 due to the Iraq invasion and/or his response to Hurricane Katrina. Many now are losing trust in Obama due to the way he’s handled healthcare. Throw in the fact that the trust of 2 more of our most previous presidents, Bush 41 and Clinton (1) also was eroded. Bush 41 promised not to raise taxes, but did so anyway. Clinton, no less, split microscopic grammar hairs attempting to alter the definition of “is” via his extra curricular Oval Office activities.
And so, yes, I struggle with how to discuss this well. I must thus again return to what is elementary. If our leaders only governed with the basic, ethical, elementary rules, perhaps then our trust would not evaporate so dramatically. Let’s go back to what we learned in kindergarten. Let’s return to the playground…
Healthcare, etal., should have been handled like this (with my semi-subtle, editorial comments in between):
- Let everyone play. (Not just those who think like you.)
- Don’t judge a kid who’s different. (Yes, we’re all kids. You’re kids. And If you can’t talk nicely to a kid who’s different and consider how they feel, you’re acting superior. When you act superior, you’re being judgmental. Judgment is ugly. Even in kids.)
- Let the children run. (If they fall and scrape their knee or break something, they’ll learn from it — and be wiser in the future. We don’t have to make a rule that prohibits children from running. We don’t have to legislate everything! Geepers. Let all of us learn!)
- Say what you mean and mean what you say. (Lying is bad. We learned that in preschool.)
- No throwing dirt. (I repeat: no throwing dirt.)
- Know your job and respect authority. (Recognize that you are not an authority on all things; and refrain from doing things that are not within your job description.)
- Be a good sport. (In the minority or majority.)
- If you choose to lick the monkey bars during cold weather, don’t blame anyone else. (Don’t blame the person who dared you; don’t blame the weather. Take responsibility for your own actions.)
- Remember these rules are only for the playground. (Our job is not to establish rules for the bathroom and the gym. We don’t have to govern every area.)
And the number one playground rule Obama, the Bushes, Clinton, and Congress should have learned:
10. If you can’t abide by the rules, then don’t play on the playground.
Respectfully,
AR