Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Rage From Within

Right now, the Democrats are desperately trying to paint those who are angry about the health care law as a bunch of right-wing radicals. They point to death threats that a couple of people have received over the votes. But, in contradiction to Democrat's efforts, the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Congress has noted that, currently, there aren't any widespread death threats but they are remaining vigilant. My guess is that someone like Glenn Beck probably gets more death threats from the left in one day than all of Congress in a year.

Yes, there is anger out there. What was done was done on a purely partisan basis. Not a single Republican voted for this health care takeover. The only bipartisanship was in opposition. That's because more than just a few sensible and fear-for-their-jobs Democrats joined the Republicans against what Pelosi/Obama/Reid wanted passed. That bill, which was so far reaching in its impact on all Americans, was only passed with a slim 3-vote majority in the House and only achieved a 2/3 majority in the Senate after arm twisting and bribery ruled the day; and, that hardly makes it a true piece of good-for-all legislation.

I lived and served during the Vietnam War era. I saw a lot of anger then. However, it was initially from an extremely vocal and active minority of young pacifists. As the death tolls rose to unbearable levels and when it was obvious that we were backing a corrupt government in Saigon, only then did the polls shift to a majority anger against the war.

Today's anger is different. In fact, it might not just be simple anger but, instead, a form of rage. Initially, there was a majority support for health care reform. As the process rolled on, the opposition grew because it was obvious that the corrupt government to be angry over was our very own. Because of this, the American people have coalesced more quickly against this partisan health care bill/law than was the case of Americans against the Vietnam War. People are aware that this thing wouldn't be law, today, if it hadn't been bought and paid for with a lot of bribery and dirty deal making from the Democratic leadership and from this President and his Administration. Yes, people are angry; maybe even enraged. However, America understands that the way to solve most all of our problems is to do it at the voting booths. They threw the bums out when Clinton was President and, it is my guess, that there's enough rage to do the same in this year's Fall elections.

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