I want to begin this article by thanking Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her responsible Democratic colleagues, and one Republican, for standing up for the American people in their historic passage of the health-care bill in the house. I've bitterly criticized Speaker Pelosi in the past, and I'm still smarting over her "impeachment is off the table" stance during the Bush administration, but she stepped up to the plate in a very big way in this, the most significant legislation that the house has pasted in a generation. So thank you, Madam speaker.
But that said, now is the time for progressives, Democratic supporters, and all citizens who care about a congress "of the people" to also step up to the plate — not by weeping and begging the Liebercrats in the Senate to do what's right by the people, but by showing them the consequences of not doing so.
The American people have been so disengaged for the past generation or two that all of our threats, negative polls, and protestations are hitting what has become a tin ear in congress. It has become clear that when many in congress have to choose between the best interests of the people and the possible loss of corporate largess, the people's interest will come up short every time.
Joe Lieberman is a prime case in point.
After being forced into a corner, Lieberman has publicly thumbed his nose at a 47% margin in favor of a public option in health-care by his own constituents — and that's after they dramatically saved his career in the 2006 election. Even after what Lieberman did in the 2008 election to the Democratic voters who supported his vice presidential bid in 2000, that sets a new standard in unconscionable ingratitude, even for him.
Not only has Lieberman indicated that he's going to use "his power as one senator" to defy the will of the people who sent him back to the senate, but he invited other Democratic senators to join him. This blatant act of treachery towards the people MUST be roundly and publically slapped down by ALL of the citizens of this nation if "we the people" expect to remain at all relevant. Our failure to do so is to sign off on a precedent that effectively changes the very character of America — from "we the people," to "we the sheep."
Lieberman's treachery has brought America to the proverbial fork in the road. Historians will one day look back and define this one act as the point in American history where either the American people finally stepped up to the plate to re-take control of their government, or where America surrendered to corporatism and became just another corpo-banana republic.
Article comments
1 - Dave Nalle
The Lieberman-bashing aside -- and who doesn't like to bash on Joe now and again -- this article exhibits what I can only describe as a kind of a delusional mindset which infects partisans on the left and makes the things they write and say almost incomprehensible to those who live in the real world.
Example to the point:
Lieberman's treachery has brought America to the proverbial fork in the road. Historians will one day look back and define this one act as the point in American history where either the American people finally stepped up to the plate to re-take control of their government, or where America surrendered to corporatism and became just another corpo-banana republic.
Ok, I'm on board for retaking constol of the government. That's what the tea parties and the radicals rising up in the GOP and on the right are trying to do. I was surprised to learn you're on their side.
But I guess you must be, because you oppose corporatism, and the current healthcare bill under consideration is nothing but a huge gift to the insurance companies paid by the taxpayers. That's the corporatism you're objecting to, right? You're outraged about the Democrats selling out the people to the trial lawyers and the insurance companies and big pharma.
Agh. DoubleThink.
dave
2 - Ruvy
This debate on "universal health care" in the States reminds me of two bums walking down 5th Avenue in Manhattan arguing over which Armani suits they should buy - when they not only haven't go the money for the Armani suits, but barely enough to buy some rubby-dub.
What a joke!!! I honestly cannot believe how many of you Americans are being conned into a phony debate over a bad health- care plan you cannot even afford!!!!
3 - Wattree
I'm outraged over politicians ignoring the will of the people on a morally sound issue - period. Anything else you see, you're reading into it.
The tea partyers don't reflect the will of the majority of the people. And your take that what the people want constitutes a gift to the insurance industry is irrelevant and distracts from the point. So while I disagree with you, the points not worth debating, since that's what the majority of the people want.
4 - Christopher Rose
Ruvy, your much repeated comment about the USA being broke would be interesting and relevant if it were actually true.
In fact, it is still one of the world's biggest economies and is going to remain so for many years to come.
Around 20% of its GDP comes from industry and agriculture, (you know, making things) as compared to a global average of around 30%, and it is a leader in many areas of advanced technology.
Perhaps a little information as opposed to wishful thinking would help you to see things a little more clearly...
5 - Arch Conservative
This bill from the Houseis not the Will of the people and no matter how many times you falsely cliam it is does notmake it so Wattree.
The bill is never going to pass the Senate.
You can write your little articles chock full of leftist propaganda from now until the the cows come home but ti won't change a thing at the end of the day.
There's not going to be a public option [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor].
6 - Wattree
Ruvy,
Suck it up. If it wasn't for America the state of Israel never would have been created, and Americans have given both blood and treasure to Israel since its creation.
Even as we speak, young Americans are dying as a result of America's unwavering loyalty to Israel. So your rants against the United States are counter productive.
Your ridiculous antipathy towards the United States represents the height of ingratitude, and every time most Americans hear such bullshit from radical Israeli Tea Baggers it pisses them off, then make their eyes glaze over.
No one can always have everything their own way - including Israel. Americans are tired of our sons and daughter dying just because Israeli radicals want to setup a new neighborhood on their neighbor's land.
If that constitutes anti-semitism from your point of view, so be it. We're also tired of having to prove we're not biggots everytime we disagree with a Jew. That bullshit is getting old.
You see, Ruvy, I can say that, because I know how the game is played. But as a Black man, I'm immune to being sent on a guilt trip.
7 - Arch Conservative
"We're also tired of having to prove we're not biggots everytime we disagree with a Jew. That bullshit is getting old."
We're also tired of having to prove we're not racists everytime we disagree with Obama. That bullshit is getting old.
We're also tired of having to prove we're not racists everytime we disagree with a black person. That bullshit is getting old."
8 - Arch Conservative
Ruvy......I think Wattree paid you a compliment.
He called you an "Israeli Teabagger."
Oh and Barack Obamaite is neither an anti-semite or a sociliast. He just plays both on TV.
9 - Wattree
I don't think anyone who disagrees with Obama is a racist. In fact, I've disagreed with him. I've also disagreed with Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King.
I don't give anyone's opinion priority over my own - and that includes Barack Obama. So you're wasting your time trying to bait me into defending any of these people. The only thing I defend is my view of reality.
I deal in facts - not race, not religion, ideology, or celebrity. And if my position is inconsistent with the facts, I adjust my position, not the facts.
10 - Mark
The 'will of the people' is a chimera and an unsound basis for argument. It often does serve as the foundation for this or that ideology, however. Fact is, there are lots of people and lots of wills.
11 - Ruvy
Wattree,
I'm not sucking anything up. Days are coming soon when you will see American body bags going from Hebron Israel to Hebron Connecticut. Days are coming soon when you will see violence, first between Jews and Jews, and then between Jews and Americans - OVER OUR LAND, JUDEA AND SAMARIA.
Your eyes glaze over? You don't know the meaning of the term, Wattree. So many dead Arabs will have glazed eyes, so many dead Jews will have glazed eyes - and finally, so many dead Americans will have glazed eyes because your piece of shit of a president acts like a white (elitist) boy kissing Arab ass, just like his white elitist predecessor, and his white elitist predecessor. And just so you get this straight in your head. At least 10,000 dead Americans have glazed eyes - or none at all, their heads were blown off - fighting to protect your elites' loyalty to the Wahhabi shit in Arabia. You know who I'm talking about, don't you? That piece of trash your so-called president bowed to, a full bow, because the real boss is in Riyadh - not Washington. Even now, Arab ass is being kissed as a one of the Wahhabi faithful is being white-washed after killing YOUR soldiers on American soil.
Until then, I'll report the bad news coming to my doorstep, as it gets closer and closer - and finally I'll report on the Redemption in Real Time - a concept you don't even understand. They don't teach that stuff out in L.A., and you have some nasty lessons coming your way, pal.
You see, my game is not race - it's truth. That's a game you haven't figured out yet.
12 - Mark Saleski
bc politics.
black hole of suck.
13 - Wattree
Ruvy,
You're a zealot, and reason is incompatable with zealotry. So I never waste my time trying to reason with a zealot, because they're not interest in logic. All you're interested in is spewing the nobility of your cause, and how God hates everyone who disagrees with you.
So you have a nice day, and save that nonsense for someone who either respects your opinion, or at the very least, consider it worthy of debate. You're wasting your time with me.
14 - Clavos
It's questionable that America ever was a great nation.
And your take that what the people want constitutes a gift to the insurance industry is irrelevant and distracts from the point. So while I disagree with you, the points not worth debating, since that's what the majority of the people want.
Hmmm. Seems I recall reading that approximately 85% of the people with insurance are happy with the status quo.
And Nalle's right. Pelosi's package is a huge gift to the very industry the Dems have demonized to get their "reform" through.
So, nothing will be reformed, but the insurance companies will reap an unprecedented windfall from "reform."
It's downright Machiavellian.
And totally American.
15 - Dave Nalle
I'm outraged over politicians ignoring the will of the people on a morally sound issue - period. Anything else you see, you're reading into it.
If the will of the people is self destructive then someone who is more informed and more objective has the obligation to protect their interests.
But it's all moot anyway, because the people do NOT support this legislation. The latest Gallup Poll has 48% opposing the bill and only 43% supporting it, so by your own argument we should all oppose it.
The tea partyers don't reflect the will of the majority of the people.
And the interests and rights of a minority group are irrelevant? How eager you are to embrace tyranny.
And your take that what the people want constitutes a gift to the insurance industry is irrelevant and distracts from the point.
It's not my "take" it's fact. Before you write on a subject like this you might want to read the bill involved or at least a summary of some sort.
So while I disagree with you, the points not worth debating, since that's what the majority of the people want.
So if the majority of the people wanted to round up jews and pout them in death camps that would be fine with you? You're the reason the constitution created a Representative Republic rather than a Democracy and also the reason why bills like this which degrade the constitution and the rule of law MUST be opposed.
In light of the facts and recent polling, what's clear here is that you support the desire of a tyrannical minority to impose on the people a gross violation of their constitutional rights and individual liberty, at great and unjustifiable expense. How can you live with that?
Dave
16 - Ruvy
So if the majority of the people wanted to round up Jews and put them in death camps that would be fine with you?
With Wattree? Probably.... You know, all those thieving Hollywood Jooish types - not to mention all those descendants of slave traders... I can't imagine Wattree being too uncomfortable with getting rid of all that - even if some of his best friends are Jews.
Of course, I can't answer for him....
17 - zingzing
let's all cheer for ruvy, the genocidal maniac who puts genocidal words in other people's mouths in the most passive-aggressive way! he's clear as day! hip hip hooray! hip hip---! hooray!
18 - Wattree
Dave, you said:
"So if the majority of the people wanted to round up jews and pout them in death camps that would be fine with you? You're the reason the constitution created a Representative Republic rather than a Democracy and also the reason why bills like this which degrade the constitution and the rule of law MUST be opposed."
Again, you've only seen what you want to see.
You conveniently ignored the words "morally sound issue." Thus, you're building a specious, strawman argument - again.
I'm beginning to see a pattern here - such a strong pattern that I anticipated your argument. That's why I made it a point to add those words:
"I'm outraged over politicians ignoring the will of the people on a MORALLY SOUND ISSUE - period. Anything else you see, you're reading into it."
19 - Arch Conservative
Yes it's quite outrageous to watch as Pelosi and company give the American people the one finger salute Wattree.
There's nothing quite as fun for an unhinged moonbat as bankrupting the nation under the guise of compassion for the American people.
20 - Dave Nalle
"I'm outraged over politicians ignoring the will of the people on a MORALLY SOUND ISSUE - period. Anything else you see, you're reading into it."
And again, since you're just ignoring me and repeating yourself, polls show that the will of the people is to NOT pass this horrible legislation. So why don't you address why we should force this plan on the people against their will?
Dave
21 - Arch Conservative
The truth is like kryptonite to Wattree Dave.