A Few Thoughts On Reform Reactions

1. I don't know what I'm talking about. I haven't read the massive bill. I don't know all of its nuances and legal loopholes. I can only go from what I've heard from news media (mostly NPR, Fox News, and CNN), a couple of friends in medical fields, a handful of friends who have had trouble finding medical care, and lots of friends and family who act like they know what they're talking about but who mostly get their information from specific news agencies and radio talk shows. Honestly, I haven't researched it that much. I am interested in the practicalities, but I'm more focused on the principles of government and economics.

2. Republicans and conservatives and whoever else doesn't like it can mitch and boan endlessly about how awful this is, but it's done. It's passed. Raise the caution flags if you feel obligated by your conscience to make sure we don't all blindly accept it and jump on a bandwagon to hell. Speak out about what must be done to remedy the situation. That's good and well and necessary. But for goodness' sake, set aside your bleeping need to sound indignant and incensed so that ten years from now, when the government surely is collapsing because of Obama, you can say, "See? I told you so!" Whine about how wrong it was if you must, but unless you're going to propose action to make it better, I'm sure there's something more productive you can do with your time, like researching solutions to the possible damage it will cause and electing representatives who will make the decisions you support, or spending quality time with a loved one or developing a talent or actually learning about the issues from both sides of the spectrum so you don't sound like a left- or right-wing talk show drone...or an ignorant, wishy washy moderate *sheepish shrug*.

3. I know that, for many of you who didn't support the bill, when you hear someone say, "At least it's something," you're thinking how ignorant and short-sighted that sounds, how lacking in wisdom and resigned to defeat. Let me try to articulate what I think many people mean when they say that: our government has been pretty gridlocked for some time. Republicans and Democrats refuse to truly cooperate and opt instead for power grabs and force. Republicans had many, many years to make meaningful change. They didn't. Democrats had a shot now. They did it. They didn't do it extremely well, nor did they do it ethically, as far as my nodding acquaintance can tell. But the thing I like most about the fact that they did it is that now the Republicans might be spurred into action, sparking actual progress unless both sides entrench and refuse cooperation. Goodness knows that if the American public is as unsure about this bill as the polls seem to indicate, this will actually help Republicans in the elections (probably their goal, at least subconsciously, in all their self-righteous soap-boxing), and competition can kick in to achieve some balance and whatever course correction is needed.

4. Would it have been better to hold off and find a better, more complete, less financially dicey, maybe more privatized solution? As far as I can tell, I'm pretty sure my response is "yes". But would that solution ever be reached if one side or the other didn't cram something through? Unfortunately, in today's political climate, I don't see it happening. That doesn't in any way justify cramming it through, if that's what was done, but if opponents of the bill will kindly get over themselves and get their posturing and grandstanding and damned self-righteous indignation out of the way (as if the disease of unethical and corrupt tactics is unique to the left) and get off their butts and do something about the problems they say are surely coming, I'd appreciate it. Dialog. Research. Elect ethical representatives. Whatever it takes. Maybe they'll take a lesson from this: if you don't do it yourself, someone else is going to do it their way, and you're probably not going to like it.

5. Democrats and Republicans, no matter how convinced you are that your righteous cause overrides the will of the people, if you again pull sh!# like even considering "deem and pass" on or cramming through such major legislation without clear public support, I am poised to personally come cut off your balls one by one, and maybe that'll tame you. Yes, that includes you, Pelosi.