Politically Incorrect

Who would have thought just one year ago, as we watched the triumphant, history-making inauguration of Barack Obama that his dreams (and many of ours) of a re-energized, united and thoughtful nation would be mired in the same old political muck today that we have been for years? Who could have imagined that our economy would not have been transformed, and that all our soldiers would not be at home safe with their families? In our wildest dreams, could we have foreseen that the battle over Health Care Reform would linger long enough to likely be destroyed by a man who once posed naked in Cosmopolitan magazine? It truly boggles the mind.

The Democrats should buy a box of tissues and prepare for a disappointing year, as the election last night of Republican Scott Brown to the Massachusetts seat of Senator Edward Kennedy proves that the tide is turning away from the promises of “hope” and “change” and back toward the balance of “nothing will ever get done.” Barring a miracle, the mid-term elections in the fall will no doubt shatter the majority standing that the Dems have held and wasted for barely a year now. As usual, when we have the opportunity of a lifetime (and fail miserably), they have no one to blame but themselves.

Proof of how far off track they have gone since the sweeping wins of 2008 is evident in the victory of Mr. Brown in a state that has voted Democrat for decades. Although certainly qualified (with a 30 year tenure in the National Guard and several terms in the Mass. House of Representatives and Senate), Brown is the polar opposite of Kennedy in his agenda, meaning that the majority of voters don’t mind that many of Kennedy’s personal goals (like health care reform), will probably be defeated under Brown’s vote.

What does all this mean? Does it mean that the voters in Massachusetts don’t care about health care? I don’t think so. I think most American’s, even Republicans, care about health care (although the Republicans probably care more about keeping their guns, stopping abortions and preventing gay marriage. After those things, I’m pretty sure that “health care reform” is pretty high on the list). But truth be told, Americans want results. We’re a result oriented nation.

The Democrats made the same mistakes that the Republicans have made in the past, and both will surely make again in the future (sadly, politicians seem immune to the lessons of history). They fell victim to their own individual egos.

It does take a certain bit of arrogance to run for office in the first place. You have to be able to look in the mirror and see a person who not only believes in themselves, but also believes that masses of others should also believe in them. Once the results of that election prove that to be true, their arrogance is totally affirmed. By the time they actually take office, their actions and opinions are less about the people they are supposed to serve than their own self interests, self promotion and adherence to the narrow party line.

The thing that upsets most of us, at least those who don’t get so caught up in the political bravado of one side or the other being absolutely right, is that while all this posturing and finger pointing is going on, serious issues needed addressing:

Health Care Reform: Health care is a basic human right. I’m sorry, but if you can look at a sick child and say “sorry kid, your Daddy doesn’t have a good job with health care benefits, you’re gonna have to just suck it up,” then you’re lacking the one quality that is required to participate in this discussion, “humanity.”

I believe these are some Health Care issues that most people agree upon (regardless of party):

• Children and Seniors should have unlimited access to medical services and medicine, regardless of cost
• Medicare should be protected and senior coverage expanded with better drug affordability
• People should not lose their homes or go bankrupt trying to pay medical bills.
• “Pre-existing condition” rules should be outlawed.
• There should be a reasonable, low-cost insurance option for all Americans (but this does not mean it should be illegal not to have it).

That’s five things that would make a big difference in our current heath care environment. I’d have been happy if two of those things had been implemented this year (heck, I would have been pleasantly surprised with one). These could have been done incrementally. I have no problem with “baby steps.” That’s how I learned to walk, and it’s worked for me for a long, long time. I didn’t need them to torch everything all at once and start from scratch. I’d have been happy with progress…any kind of progress.

But the arrogance of our elected officials would not let that happen. On the contrary, they had a “mandate” from the American people! Nothing short of a complete and total overhaul would suffice. Even if that were possible, it would take much smarter folks than those who just don’t get that the words “universal health care” are about as friendly to the ears of the average American as the phrase “you have rectal warts.”

“All or nothing,” was apparently the mantra of some congressional democrats, and “nothing” just might be the final outcome. A year of time wasted and the hopes of possible change cast aside in the shadow of hubris.

But that's just one issue that is still spinning around unresolved and presumably going nowhere. Congress didn't have substantial time to waste on serious disagreements over the environment, education and the stabilization of our economy.

For those who are laughing at this and saying, “I told you so,” I wouldn’t be so quick to brag. Republicans lost miserably in the last election for the same kind of political posturing and failure of service, so why should you expect anything different from this batch of eggs born from the same disease riddled hen?

We’re in big trouble folks. America’s wheels are spinning on slippery ice, and no one is making an attempt to find traction. Until we kind find some common ground and put aside all the posturing and differences, it doesn’t matter how many back and forth elections we have, we’re not going anywhere.