Virtue! – Washington Post Condones Deceit

All sober enquiries (sic) after truth, ancient and modern, Pagan and Christian, have declared that the happiness of man, as well as his dignity, consists in virtue. Confucius, Zoroaster, Socrates, Mahomet, not to mention authorities really sacred, have agreed in this.

If there is a form of government then, whose principle and foundation is virtue, will not every sober man acknowledge it better calculated to promote the general happiness than any other form?

“Thoughts on Government:  Applicable to the Present State of the American Colonies; In a Letter from a Gentleman to his Friend” – John Adams 1776

Virtue! – Washington Post Condones Deceit

The Washington Post admits the President and other proponents deceived Americans by persistently stating, “You can keep your insurance.”  The editorial board writes

PRESIDENT OBAMA famously claimed that Americans who liked their insurance plans would be able to keep them under health-care reform. Well, that’s not completely true, nor is it the only example of the Obama administration failing to prepare the public for the Affordable Care Act’s phase-in.

Outrageously, the Post argues that America does not need a virtuous government.  America does not need an honest and forthright debate by politicians among themselves and/or the public.  No?  The Post cheerleaders forcefully argue the law is fair and good, and young and healthy Americans should support it.

Yet, having lots of healthy people paying into the new system on its terms will not only limit their financial risk, but also their participation will allow others who have been priced out of the health-insurance market — those with serious preexisting conditions, for example — to obtain good coverage. They deserve compassion, too.   So, compassion justifies governing by deceit.

The Post appallingly concludes:

None of this is an outrage. It’s the predictable result of a defensible policy choice embedded in the reform.

Government must have the moral authority and the respect of its citizens in order to prosper under the Rule of Law.  The intent of the Constitution must be followed.  The laws must be openly debated and duly promulgated.  However, the opposite occurred. 

As Nancy Pelosi infamously exposed, “But we have to pass the [health care] bill so that you can find out what’s in it….”  Instead of an open debate and serious contemplation, Pelosi and Reid rammed a law through, therefore giving almost total rule-making authority to the bureaucracy.  Then, Secretary Sebelius directed the bureaucracy to manipulate the rules depriving hundreds of thousands of their insurance, while President Obama continued to say, “You can keep your insurance.”  This is outrageous

Laws made by bureaucrats and deceit has no place in our Constitutional system.  Equally outrageous, is the editorial.  Society is dangerously threatened when a free press – a theoretically unbiased observers and opinion-makers – has no concern about virtue.  The Post’s editorial equals Pelosi’s ignorance and disrespect for our Constitution.

 
 
 
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Personal Freedom and Prosperity 110: The Rule of Law

A Predictable and Stable Legal Order
A government with moral and legal authority promulgates written rules and universally, impartially and uniformly enforces the rules, which provides a predictable and stable legal order on which to base economic and personal decisions. The law prevails, not the proclamation or arbitrary decision of a ruler, government bureaucrat, the enforcer (e.g., policeman) or judge.
 

 

 

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