The Health Care Meltdown

Are we finally seeing the collapse of welfare state politics under the weight of its internal contradictions? Er, no. Not yet.

But we are certainly seeing the Democrats in a very uncomfortable place. But not to worry, writes the AP's David Espo.

"Our bottom line is that the bills as they are coming through will genuinely slow the growth of health care spending, both public and private, by about 1 percentage point a year for an extended period," said Christina Romer, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers.

So that's all right.

But why? Why do the Democrats insist on this crazy, unpopular, unjust nationalization of health care. Byron York has been talking to an unnamed Democratic strategist. There's three ways in which the Dems are committed to this madness.

1. House leadership view. Dems like Pelosi have waited forever to pass this universal health program, and if they lose 20-40 members next year, it's a price they are willing to pay. (Easy for them: senior Dems represent bombproof liberal districts.)
2. White House view. There will never be a better time to do it than right now. (They don't have an election next year.)
3. Senate View. They figure that vulnerable Dems like Dodd and Reid are vulnerable anyway. Health care won't make that much of a difference.

But why push on when they know that the public is against it?

"Because they think they know what's best for the public," the strategist said. "They think the facts are being distorted and the public's being told a story that is not entirely true, and that they are in Congress to be leaders. And they are going to make the decision because Goddammit, it's good for the public."

I think there is a name for this. Delusion.

That's why I think that the next two election cycles are going to be the most important since the New Deal elections of 1932, 1934, and 1936, which set the United States upon the current statist path.

We need a decisive turn in national politics that sends an unmistakable message to the political elite, the educated elite, and the cultural elite. This is the message:

Change your ways or we will change you.

Above all we must send the message that the whole point of the United States is freedom, the freedom to live your life without government politicians, government experts, and government bureaucrats breathing down your neck. It's in the Declaration of Independence:

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

It's not that hard, surely.