Look, the health care bill will insure lots of people who cannot get insurance now. This means raising health care costs for everybody else.
Now, if Obama had just said: "we need to take care of those who are sick or otherwise cannot get insurance. This costs money, and must be paid for by other people. But it's something I think society should do" that would be one thing.
Many might disagree. But many would agree. I think a health care bill would have a good chance of passing then. Even if it didn't, it would be a disappointment for Obama but not reflect badly on him. He could continue to work quietly on a revised bill, for instance, and come back in two years saying (in effect): "look, you say it would be nice but cost too much. How about plan B?"
Instead, Obama is trying to convince everybody of the blatantly untrue, indeed of something that could not possibly be true: that the bill somehow will not raise taxes, will not cost the average American more money, and so on.
Why?
And don't tell me it's a politicians' usual way of working towards a goal by lying. Don't tell me it is deep strategic thinking based on considering likely opposition from the republicans. That would work if he were running in, say, a district, or perhaps a state, election.
But he is president of the USA for God's sake. He is precisely the one man who is supposed to be open and represent the people in general and tell them the truth, let the chips fall where they may.
Why doesn't he do it, I don't undestand. It seems not just the morally correct thing, but the practically correct thing -- perhaps not for Joe Schmoe who is running for his third term as representative of district 17 in New York; yes, for the POTUS.
Now, if Obama had just said: "we need to take care of those who are sick or otherwise cannot get insurance. This costs money, and must be paid for by other people. But it's something I think society should do" that would be one thing.
Many might disagree. But many would agree. I think a health care bill would have a good chance of passing then. Even if it didn't, it would be a disappointment for Obama but not reflect badly on him. He could continue to work quietly on a revised bill, for instance, and come back in two years saying (in effect): "look, you say it would be nice but cost too much. How about plan B?"
Instead, Obama is trying to convince everybody of the blatantly untrue, indeed of something that could not possibly be true: that the bill somehow will not raise taxes, will not cost the average American more money, and so on.
Why?
And don't tell me it's a politicians' usual way of working towards a goal by lying. Don't tell me it is deep strategic thinking based on considering likely opposition from the republicans. That would work if he were running in, say, a district, or perhaps a state, election.
But he is president of the USA for God's sake. He is precisely the one man who is supposed to be open and represent the people in general and tell them the truth, let the chips fall where they may.
Why doesn't he do it, I don't undestand. It seems not just the morally correct thing, but the practically correct thing -- perhaps not for Joe Schmoe who is running for his third term as representative of district 17 in New York; yes, for the POTUS.
