we listened and they lied
About two hours ago (at 1:18am EST), the United States Senate passed a motion to invoke cloture on the latest healthcare bill, moving it one step closer to final passage. The debate, which has raged on for days and weeks on end was full of ‘messaging’ on both sides. The Republicans wanted to make it clear that they had attempted to participate in the formulation of the bill, but were denied access and opportunity. The Democrats insisted that those ‘on the other side of the aisle’ had offered nothing of substance to the debate and were simply trying to stall, and ultimately, kill the bill for political reasons.
Typically, I make an earnest attempt to listen to both sides of a particular argument and hear the truth in what they are saying. In this case, I did so, but only heard ‘truth’ on one side.
The fact is, the Republicans were shut out of this debate and their attempts to play by the rules by offering amendments to the healthcare bill were rebuffed time and time again. Thus, one could say that about half of the country - those that might agree with many of the Republican proposals - were similarly shut out of the process that produced this massive legislation affecting one-sixth of our nation’s economy.
I prefer to trust people rather than distrust them. However, the obvious shenanigans that took place during the many hours of discussion on the healthcare issue have, to put it kindly, made me want to toss many of these people out on their ear! The back-room, closed-door, under-the-table dealings (see Michelle Malkin’s round-up) that have taken place over the last several weeks and months are unacceptable and unbefitting of our Republic.
The thing is, we, the citizens, realize that progress is made only when both sides are willing compromise on certain details, or the ‘means and methods’ used to reach common goals. In fact, most of us have to do a bit of this in our everyday lives in order to accomplish our work each day. Once again, though, our congressional ‘leaders’ are completely out of sync with The American People (even though they refer to us, for dramatic effect, quite often).
They obviously don’t care what we think. And, they don’t think us worthy to ‘debate’. They most certainly don’t think the forty senators we sent to D.C. to speak on our behalf are material to crafting the legislation they’ve decided to push through while we’re all out Christmas shopping.
Well, you know what, Senators? I’m through. Clearly, you’ve lost your way and our country has neither the time nor finances for you to find your way back to center. The 2010 electoral season gets going full-speed in a few weeks, and I, along with millions of other disheartened and disgusted citizens, plan to take back our capitol!
Our Republic is still - yes, still - the envy of much of the world. We would do well to respect it as much as those who risk their lives to reach its shores do. The House and Senate should be noble spaces in which great deeds are accomplished, and citizens’ lives are made better. But, in your care, it has become much less than that. Your political grandstanding, phony moral ‘outrage’, and disingenuous smearing of your colleagues is nothing short of pathetic.
You conducted this vote after minimal debate, and in the middle of the night. You hoped we might miss it. But, rest assured: we were watching and we were listening.
And we heard you when you lied.
- tdc
*Photo credits
Top Photo - UK Guardian
United States Capitol - learnnc.org
