Monday, August 24, 2009

Health Care Reform: The AP's Fantasy Edition !

The impending defeat of Obama's socialization of American medicine reminds me a bit of the last days of Nazi Germany; the propaganda machine exhorted the citizens to fight on as top party officials sought safe haven; all while Hitler ordered counterattacks by German armies that existed only in his fevered imagination.

Anyway - this AP "analysis" blames the "sales tactics" of the Democrats for the failure of ObamaCare to gain any traction (if those stupid Americans only understood it, they would want it!), and creates fictitious enemies for Obama to defeat.

First, the stupidity meme:

"The people don't have sufficient information, and I'm surprised the administration and others backing reform haven't done much more to educate the public," said Robin Lauermann, professor of politics at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa.

If only we understood the machinations of our betters....!

And here's the straw men:

As the health care argument swirls during the August congressional recess, Americans have witnessed ugly and offensive attacks on the motives of Obama and those who support changing the system, even though it is held responsible for a majority of private bankruptcies in the world's No. 1 economy.

The article makes no mention of the ugly and offensive attacks by the administration on those private citizens who oppose their legislation - un-American liars, indeed!

And when in doubt, blame the ex-governor of Alaska:

The lack of one specific piece of legislation for the president to sell has opened the door for opponents inside and outside government to heap unfounded allegations on the reform process.

Some have been outrageous, including an assertion by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, last year's Republican vice presidential nominee, who said the plan would include "death panels."
She appears to have created that scare tactic out of a now-abandoned portion of House legislation that would have required Medicare payments for consultation with a physician about a patient's wishes for treatment at the end of life.


So Palin's assertion is outrageous, except for the fact that the provision she actually spoke about was then removed after she brought it to light. In other words, it actually existed, and she was telling the truth - which, to a media that loathes her and loves Obamacare, is therefore a lie.

Got that?

Regardless, the writer of this piece (Steven Hurst) makes his true feelings known in a throwaway line halfway through:

...bringing the United States in line with the world's other wealthy democracies that guarantee health care to everyone.

Ah. To be France, or Spain, nations that have unemployment consistently around 10-11%, with a taxation system that leaves little chance for improvement, or the growth of one's personal status.

This is the crux of the matter. Mr. Hurst, and the Democrats, want America to be more like France. Americans, however, like who and what they are, and prefer not to mimic the dying throes of a dead culture.

And their in lies the struggle, not in "tactics" or talking points. The battle for the soul of America has been joined, and no amount of media scolding of our intelligence and immaturity will end it before its course has been run...

1 comment:

Publius said...

"changing the system, even though it is held responsible for a majority of private bankruptcies in the world's No. 1 economy."

What's wrong with bankruptcy? It is a significant legal protection for those who have made grave decisions. It allows you to fail and start over.

Remember folks. If you are not allowed to fail, then you are not allowed to succeed. So really? Why try?