So here we are at a genuine crossroads in our nation's history, and much to my surprise (not) I find that politicians are once again playing politics with something that they should be handling like a nuclear warhead, rather than as a soccer ball.
I can't help but think about JFK's book, "Profiles in Courage," as I watch the political maneuvering those on the right and the middle are engaged in as the Healthcare Reform debate plays out. I know guys like Chuck Grassley are worried about loosing their seats if they don't play to the right on this one, but the language coming out of these normally moderate mouths is so inflammatory and ridiculous that it seems quite apparent to me that far too many of these men and women would sell their souls to the devil rather than risk giving up political power.
Year after year, election after election, you hear these politicians making grandiose speeches about values, love of country, helping your neighbors and a host of other altruistic causes, but when push comes to shove and they find their power in jeopardy, they cower and bend their knees to special interests and the political strategist from whom they take their marching orders.
My god! If ever their was a cause upon which to throw caution to the wind and reach a hand out across the aisle to work toward a compromise, Healthcare Reform is it! And where the right could have done so much to keep the debate serious (business and financial aspects!) they instead chose to throw the baby out with the bathwater and trample both into the mud! People will quite literally die because of what they are doing to harass and delay Reform, and if they think this kind of destructive behavior is any way to re-build their party, they better check the object in their rearview mirror: The Libertarians are closer than they appear.
http://www.britethorn.com