PrintIt's too bad the only newspaper reporters who understand how politics actually work are writing for the business page:
The first thing to say is that while those of us who are Washington insiders may be focused on health reform, the country has its mind on lots of other things. First and foremost is a lousy economy that has resulted in lots of lost jobs and lost wealth, a big spike in the federal deficit, and big budget shortfalls for state and local governments. Combine that with lousy weather, an attempted terrorist attack, a never-ending war in Afghanistan and an earthquake that may have just killed 200,000 people and you don't have to be George Gallup to figure out that Americans are in a grumpy mood and might want to take it out on the politicians and parties in power.
That seething discontent is no less evident in Florida and California, states with Republican governors, than it is in Virginia and New Jersey, which until this month had Democratic governors. And it's even true in other countries -- Britain, Ireland, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Chile and Argentina are several that come to mind. The common thread in those places isn't health-care reform.
COMMENTS (4)
"...That seething discontent is no less evident in Florida and California, states with Republican governors, than it is in Virginia and New Jersey, which until this month had Democratic governors. And it's even true in other countries -- Britain, Ireland, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Chile and Argentina are several that come to mind. The common thread in those places isn't health-care reform."
"Canada"? "seething discontent"? Oxymoron!
"...That seething discontent is no less evident in Florida and California, states with Republican governors, than it is in Virginia and New Jersey, which until this month had Democratic governors. And it's even true in other countries -- Britain, Ireland, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Chile and Argentina are several that come to mind. The common thread in those places isn't health-care reform."
"Canada"? "seething discontent"? Oxymoron!
Good analysis: I too consider Obama's failure to prevent the Haiti earthquake a major misjudgment on his part.
Good analysis: I too consider Obama's failure to prevent the Haiti earthquake a major misjudgment on his part.
Er, I just looked at Boston.com, and they're saying it was about health care. I also just ready your colleague John Judis's excellent piece, and *he* offers evidence that it was about health care. And an inside-the-Beltway business reporter knows something they don't? Obviously, health care is bound up with a lot of other issues--not to mention the sour mood of the public right now. But one of the things that a sour mood does is make people more fearful of changes that look like they might hurt them--and angry at politicians and policy wonks who insist on making those changes regardless of whether the voters want them or not. One of the most disturbing consequences of this vote is the r ... view full comment
Er, I just looked at Boston.com, and they're saying it was about health care. I also just ready your colleague John Judis's excellent piece, and *he* offers evidence that it was about health care. And an inside-the-Beltway business reporter knows something they don't? Obviously, health care is bound up with a lot of other issues--not to mention the sour mood of the public right now. But one of the things that a sour mood does is make people more fearful of changes that look like they might hurt them--and angry at politicians and policy wonks who insist on making those changes regardless of whether the voters want them or not. One of the most disturbing consequences of this vote is the revelation that the progressive blogosphere is in a state of denial about its significance. Now the predominant line seems to be "Pass health care regardless of its unpopularity' the voters will come around." If I were a Massacusetts voter I would regard this attitude as of a piece with Coakley's air of indifference to her constituents. BTW--I support the current health-care proposal, and am horrified at how this is turning out. But at some point progressives need to deal with the fact that this is a democracy, and the voters have to approve what it is we're doing. Policy ain't our exclusive playground; we need to stop acting as if it were.
If Congress is supposed to simply follow the polls, then we might as well abolish Congress and rule by popular referendum. Congress is supposed to lead. The public is generally uninformed about legislative issues, not because they are stupid, but because they have neither the time nor the expertise to fully understand the issues. That is why we have representative government.
There are generally three categories of people who oppose the health care bills that are currently on the table: (1) those who support health care reform but who believe the current proposals are not sufficiently reformist; (2) those who believe the lies about the bills from the right; and (3) those who have insuran ... view full comment
If Congress is supposed to simply follow the polls, then we might as well abolish Congress and rule by popular referendum. Congress is supposed to lead. The public is generally uninformed about legislative issues, not because they are stupid, but because they have neither the time nor the expertise to fully understand the issues. That is why we have representative government.
There are generally three categories of people who oppose the health care bills that are currently on the table: (1) those who support health care reform but who believe the current proposals are not sufficiently reformist; (2) those who believe the lies about the bills from the right; and (3) those who have insurance and don't care about the 10-15% who are uninsured, and who foolishly believe that they will be OK in the absence of reform. I don't believe Congress is obligated to defer to those who are uninformed or who are selfishly immoral, even if they constitute a majority.