This blog post is not about abortion, but about how, in the pursuit of a political agenda, a politician can go off the rails and wreck the whole thing. In this case I am talking about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). The larger issue is Health Care reform and the smaller issue is abortion.
Here in the United States some 80% of the people believe abortion should be legal in at least some cases. Here in the United States some 80% of the people believe abortion is wrong in at least come cases. Within those two statistics is a compromise that we have worked out over the years. A delicate compromise, but a working compromise.
Now comes the Speaker with a health care reform package that would upset that delicate compromise by making abortion part of the program. Perhaps she believes it is time to take this step. Perhaps she thinks that by laying this out there and then compromising it away she can capture the 40 some pro-life Democrat Representatives she needs to have on board to win on health care in the House of Representatives.
The problem is, if she gets the pro-life folks across the fruited plain stirred up and that contributes in some way to a different group of people winning House seats in 2010, there might be a reaction that unhinges the tacit truce on abortion that exists today. I am not saying it would happen, but what if the US Congress voted in such a way to make abortion a state, rather than a national issue? We would be right back to where we were before Roe vs Wade. For some that might be a good thing. For others not so much.
In the mean time, we are counting on Representative Brad Ellsworth to provide Speaker Pelosi with her graceful way off this stage.
Sometimes, when you are trying to change things in our form of government the answer is to work incrementally and not try to change everything you think needs changing all at once.
I think Ms Pelosi has taken on more than she can chew. Time will tell.
In the mean time, I am left wondering what a $500 billion cut in Medicare means for me and my wife. I am hoping I get to keep my TRICARE.
So, I went to Thomas, the legislative information website from the Library of Congress and this appears to be the latest bill. Who knows? We have been promised a vote this weekend. I am not counting on our Representative, Niki Tsongas, to be too worried about the abortion question and I do expect her to vote for the health care bill. I think this is a set of votes that might have legs.
Regards — Cliff
1 comment:
I think one of the core issues that this whole health care mess has illuminated, though not in any real public way, is that it isn't about what Ms. Pelosi thinks is right or even necessary. Nor is it about what the other ideologues and demogogues unilaterally define as ground truth. It is what America thinks, and the Congress is woefully out of touch with its constituents. Their individual self delusion is simply amazing. Steny Hoyer proudly announced during an MSM interview that "America will thank us for this." I think that is a bit arrogant and certainly grossly presumptous.
I have deep concerns that the rapidity with which the Democrats are frantically moving with social reform is simply going to critically polarize American society, perhaps irreparably at a time on the international stage we desperately need unity. Certainly, we are today seeing evidence of a deep anger not seen in decades of American history.
In re Medicare and TRICARE, my guess and therefore wager is that with what little is left of the Medicare program, seniors will be allocated only basic palliative care with emphasis on hurrying our exit as a "non-productive" burden on society. TRICARE for Life is an easy call as it is now only a second payer, and the entire TRICARE program is almost as easy as it really isn't an "entitlement" based on any law or contract. Like all the other "promises" made to military members, they are easily disposed of as "ideals to strive for, but not guarantees."
Not much has changed in America since the days of "Dogs and servicemen, STAY OFF THE GRASS." Gratitude is directly proportional to the strength of the perceived threat to one's little acre of heaven.
Neal
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