He's right though. Obamacare is a "big f***ing deal." David Brooks puts it in perspective,with no cursing, a talent Joe Biden seems to be sadly lacking.
Yet I confess, watching all this, I feel again why I’m no longer spiritually attached to the Democratic Party. The essence of America is energy — the vibrancy of the market, the mobility of the people and the disruptive creativity of the entrepreneurs. This vibrancy grew up accidentally, out of a cocktail of religious fervor and material abundance, but it was nurtured by choice. It was nurtured by our founders, who created national capital markets to disrupt the ossifying grip of the agricultural landholders. It was nurtured by 19th-century Republicans who built the railroads and the land-grant colleges to weave free markets across great distances. It was nurtured by Progressives who broke the stultifying grip of the trusts.
Today, America’s vigor is challenged on two fronts. First, the country is becoming geriatric. Other nations spend 10 percent or so of their G.D.P. on health care. We spend 17 percent and are predicted to soon spend 20 percent and then 25 percent. This legislation was supposed to end that asphyxiating growth, which will crowd out investments in innovation, education and everything else. It will not.
With the word security engraved on its heart, the Democratic Party is just not structured to cut spending that would enhance health and safety. The party nurtures; it does not say, “No more.”C.S. Lewis said it best.
Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.
It is a tyranny that smothers, all in the name of the common good, all in the name of saving it's victims from pain.
Mr. Brooks continues:
The second biggest threat to America’s vibrancy is the exploding federal debt. Again, Democrats can utter the words of fiscal restraint, but they don’t feel the passion. This bill is full of gimmicks designed to get a good score from the Congressional Budget Office but not to really balance the budget. Democrats did enough to solve their political problem (not looking fiscally reckless) but not enough to solve the genuine problem.
Nobody knows how this bill will work out. It is an undertaking exponentially more complex than the Iraq war, for example. But to me, it feels like the end of something, not the beginning of something. It feels like the noble completion of the great liberal project to build a comprehensive welfare system.Perhaps Joe Biden was correct. His use of expletives, gutter language, seems somehow far more appropriate to this undertaking. It is most assuredly not noble, but it is a f**king big deal."
C.S. Lewis said it best.
ReplyDeleteOf all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.
It is a tyranny that smothers, all in the name of the common good, all in the name of saving it's victims from pain.
Hmmm... I believe that that quote would apply at various junctures in history towards Christianity as well, Mark.
I mean--in the name of God/Christ we have waged more wars and more atrocities than can be detailed here in a comment. Would you then, in light of that fact, still agree that the quote is true? Or do we just apply the quote arbitrarily on an 'as needed' basis?
Catholocism felt that it was justified in the Inquisitions with that type of thinking.
Christianity thought it was justified in the Holy Land wars with that type of thinking.
Israel attacks and kills Palestinians in the name of that type of thinking.
Hitler and the White Supremacy justified their actions by that type of thinking as well.
The point here is this:
The logic is faulty.
Based on that fault of logic, the premise could be found faulty.
So while I feel what you are saying, I would say that you need to express in a more logical way, what your real problem is with this legislation (sans fallacy of logic)
:)
*just sayin...*
This quote can apply to a great deal of history, both Christian and secular. It can also apply to many a parent, seeking to keep their little cherub from feeling any pain, and in the process not allowing the child to learn and grow from their pain.
ReplyDeleteNot terribly interested in being logical right now, at least not in my post. That's one of the reasons I put David Brooks' article in as a jumping off place. I found his piece quite logical.
I'm not really looking to do the "brain drain" posts of yore. Just don't feel like it. Lots of folks out there doing it. Right now , I'm more interested in trying to get out my emotions in my posts, my gut-level fear and anger.
That may change. Probably will. Still getting back in to the blogging groove. I've been gone a long time.
Patricia, this legislation expands Government control in broad and sweeping ways. And the numbers the Progressives are using to justify it financially are made of sand.
I do get the impression that you truly see no threat, no problem with the bill signed in to law today. Are you doing a blog again? If not, you're more than welcome to either do comments here, or do a Guest Blogger stint if you want. Let me know.
Well--I have lived long enough to know that most politics has its own brand of threat and problem. It's always out there.. looming and possible.
ReplyDeleteCould this turn into a monster--perhaps. I have a fear it could end up alot like the old rabble-rousing union days and ultimately become corrupt.
But then again--that could be said about most politicians and all lobbyists.. *heh*
I don't really blog much on here anymore, have to check in with some University blogs and occasionally do one here. I have the tendency to blog and vent more on facebook than anywhere! :)
But.. if'n ya want my rather leaning opinion from time to time *lol* happy to be there (at least when my head isn't getting lobbed off at the neck!)