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Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Heads or tails -- it doesn't matter

In recent days the discussion of whether ir it better for the Democrats to pass healthcare or to see it defeated has been in vogue. the simple truth is that it does not matter. For the last year and a quarter, while the country has been concerned principally with the economy, voters have been treated to the sight of the Democrats concentrating like a laser on the various healthcare proposals -- only to come up with a melange of items that are wholly disliked by the majority of Americans. To make matters worse, after it became clear that the bill is disliked by the majority of Americans, the Democrats have continued pushing it while announcing that Americans just do not understand the benefits of the bill. In plain English the Democrats argument is in essence that they know better than the American people who are apparently too stupid to understand a bill that Obama has now explained in 695 or so speeches. This position is insulting to the people (they are too stupid to understand the plan). It is insulting to democracy (the Dems will pass the bill even though it is opposed by a consistent majority of the American people). It is tone deaf (rather than concentrating on jobs and the economy as the people want, the Dems focus has been on something else). Finally, it is wasting time on something that is not a big problem (healthcare is low on the priorities of most Americans according to recent polls, and the overwhelming majority is happy with their own health care.)

After a year and a quarter of this nonsense, there is little that the Obamacrats can do to redeem themselves from the demerits they have earned from the voters. Indeed, it will take an enormous effort for Dems to recover even part of the credibility that they have sacrificed in the health care debacle. Only an assist from clumsy Republicans will enable the Dems to make any headway. In an election years, this is unlikely. As a result, November is going to be a disaster for the Dems. In truth, it could not happen to a nicer group.

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