ObamaCare: Politicians’ Dreams Are Debased By Slothful Governance

Democracy and Power 105: The Politician seeks power

To some people, government appears as a vast reservoir of power which inspires them to dream of what use might be made of it. They have favorite projects of various dimensions which they sincerely believe are for the benefit of mankind. They are thus disposed to recognize government—an instrument of passion, the art of politics to inflame and direct desire.

  • Michael Oakeshott – English political philosopher 1901-1990

ObamaCare: Politicians’ Dreams Are Debased By Slothful Governance

President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid, Democrats and many Americans dreamed of universal healthcare. With Democrats in control of the House, Senate and the Presidency, they had the power to fulfill their dream. Initially, Obama coerced and bribed everyone in the medical industry to support ObamaCare…or, at least, not actively oppose it. Then, Obama, Pelosi and Reid procured the necessary votes in the House and Senate – through more coercion and bribes.

The public? "Don’t worry, they will like it. It is a benefit for mankind."

Wrong. Even ardent supporters of ObamaCare acknowledge major flaws in the law and its implementation. Recently, Celinda Lake a top spin-master exhorts the Democrats, “In terms of Obamacare, don’t defend it, say it was flawed from the beginning, and we’re going to fix it.” An admission that House and Senate Democrats promulgated flawed legislation. President Obama signed the flawed legislation into law, and consequently millions of American lost their doctors, have no access to the hospital of their choice, lost their insurance, or are required by law to buy a bronze insurance policy (at minimum), which often costs more and has higher deductibles. For us “benefited” Americans, the IRS is the enforcer.

Okay, okay! The law is a horrific mess, very expensive, reduces employment, retards the economy and is a complicated burden. Horrifically, politicians’ dreams superseded mature and sober Congressional deliberation. Obama, Pelosi and Reid were totally focused on their dream – universal healthcare. Ardently, they exerted their political skills and enormous power to fulfill their dream. As Speaker Pelosi infamously declared, “But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.”

Just pass ObamaCare and let the bureaucracy mandate regulations and implement the law? Sure.

Following their leaders’ dictates, Senate and House Democrats abrogated their moral duty to intelligently and somberly promulgate the law and passed what Celinda Lake admits was “flawed from the beginning.” Immediately, upon ObamaCare becoming the law, our President delegated authority to Secretary Sebelius and the bureaucracy. Soon thereafter, hundreds of revisions have been made by bureaucrats, which have negatively impacted, doctors, patients, insurers, employers, the American economy and our respect for our government.

Michael Oakeshott (1901-1990) died before Obama, Pelosi and Reid were major political players. However, Oakeshott fully understood the insatiable lust for power of dreamers:

To some people, government appears as a vast reservoir of power which inspires them to dream of what use might be made of it. They have favorite projects of various dimensions which they sincerely believe are for the benefit of mankind. They are thus disposed to recognize government—an instrument of passion, the art of politics to inflame and direct desire.

Unfortunately, America is paying an enormous price for the dreams of Obama, Pelosi, Reid and their acolytes.

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