In his editorial on Health Care Reform in the recent issue of the AARP Bulletin Jim Toedtman wisely quotes Niccolo Machiavelli.
There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new.
Machiavelli may have been a bit cynical and disillusioned when he wrote "The Prince", but most people don’t know that he was actually a liberal fighter for freedom and democracy, a thing that could get you killed in those days. President Obama and Democrats in Congress surely appreciate the wisdom of Machiavelli’s words. But, I hope they also understand the importance to the American people of delivering what they have brought nearly to term.
With the loss in Massachusetts we have seen quite a few Democrats in Congress scurry for cover like cockroaches when the lights go on. That sorry spectacle brings to mind another quote from a man of principles and courage, Ben Franklin, who said at the signing of the Declaration of Independence
We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall hang separately
Any members of Congress who think that walking away from Health Care Reform will save their seats had better hope that first Tuesday in November dawns warm and sunny, because a lot of Democrats may not bother to go out in the rain and cold for representatives who obviously wouldn’t do as much for them. We didn’t elect those folks so that they could get reelected. We elected them to do the people’s business. We require them to stand for reelection periodically to remind them of that.
On the other hand, if they have the courage to see this thing through, all will be forgiven. They will have campaign contributions and volunteers in the fall. And, there are many organizations that will applaud their efforts as well. Remember that AARP, mentioned above, supports Health Care Reform, and it is probably the second most powerful force on Earth, after the United States Army.
Machiavelli had another piece of sound policy advice. If you are going to do something that people may object to, do it quickly and all at once. Democrats have already failed miserably on the first part of that dictum. However, by giving us comprehensive reform like that of the Senate bill they can still deliver on the second part.