Kill it, while we still can.
Charles Krauthammer is someone I usually listen to when he talks. His most recent proposal? Don’t kill Obamacare.
While this sounds like the occasional case of an otherwise sound conservative going off the reservation, Krauthammer makes an interesting point. He says Obamacare has enough problems that it would fail on its own, stating if we kill Obamacare, we will simply get the blame for it. Let it fail on its own.
He is so wrong.
Alexis de Tocqueville said “democracy in America will be safe until the politicians discover they can bribe the American people with their own money.”
This is never more true than with Obamacare. Obamacare is front loaded with benefits. There are far too many Americans who now believe you can have something for nothing. They believe you can have a government benefit and no one has to pay for it.
By front-loading the benefits, Obama, Pelosi and Reid have tried to create a constituency for Obamacare. They have learned from Social Security. In the past, the Democrats have trotted out the old line, if you elect Republicans, they will cut your Social Security. A lot of older people buy that line, and rush out to vote for the party of treason because they have been frightened into believing their entitlement program will be taken away from them. When you have an entitlement program that only benefits thousands, no one cares. When you have an entitlement program that benefits millions, it is untouchable. If you do not believe this, look at Social Security. It has needed to be fixed for years, yet no one will touch it.
Once a program is funded, other than a defense program, it is impossible to kill. Ronald Reagan said it best. “The closest thing to eternal life on this planet is a government program.”
Krauthammer might have a valid point, if the program were allowed to fail. However, it will never be allowed to fail. It will have bureaucrats that it employs, dependents who receive the benefits of the entitlement and big companies, such has health insurance companies, hospitals and big pharmacy who will all be at the trough and will fight tooth and nail to make sure that program stays alive.
Krauthammer’s theory might be worth trying, if we ever had a history of killing government programs what failed. The myth of the death of government programs that don’t work rates right up there with other myths, such as the Elvis sightings and Democrat tax cuts.
If this program is ever funded, we will never get rid of it. That is why Harry Reid tried to slide a full-fledged omnibus-spending bill through the lame duck session. Among other things, he and the other liberals knew, if they could get the funding for Obamacare, it could never be killed.
As the 112th Congress convenes in January, we are going to have to stay on our Congressmen. Showing backbone under pressure is not exactly something Republicans are known for. In fact, just the opposite is true. When the going gets tough, the GOP reaches across the aisle for surrender. We will have to stay on them. There can be no compromise on this issue. Obamacare must die. We have constituted the death panel for Obamacare. Now we just need to make sure the Republicans in Congress hold firm and refuse to fund this monstrosity.
And Charles Krauthammer. You are a bright guy, but this time, you are wrong!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by william e grant on -
I think he has been bought.With that statement the Kraut is done. (Kraut were have i heard that before hmmmmmmmm. )
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Permalink Reply by k.t.borland on -
I love Krauthammer,too,and usuallaly agree with him.You're right mabey this time he is wrong! Obamacare is a MONSTROSITY of a new ENTITLEMENT WE CANNOT PAY FOR!!!!!! I thought when I went to the polls this time it would make a difference! Now I'm wondering????Will the new HOUSE STAND UP?We can't PAY for the other MONSTROSITIES we're OBLIGATED to PAY for!
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Permalink Reply by John R. Lancellotti on
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Judson, I'd like to see Krauthammer answer some of the charges in your post as well as the discussions that follow in the replies to your post. In particular, the post by Ann Q. Venney, who presents a clip from "View From The Right," is, in my opinion, particularly damaging to Krauthammer. I usually find him interesting and informative. I seldom disagree with him but my mind is open and if his critics here on TPN are correct, then I'm ready not to be so quick to defend him, as I have done. Judson, is there any way you can reach out and ask him to reply to the way the members feel about him? I believe his responses would be particularly helpful. Best always, John
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Permalink Reply by Eric Kevin Poy on -
I AGREE, KEEP the REPUBLICANS FEET TO THE FIRE, "WE THE PEOPLE"/"WE THE PATRIOTS" NEED TO MAKE The REPUBS "DEFUND/REPEAL OBLAM-O CARE"!!!!!...................."KILL IT NOW WHILE WE STILL CAN"!!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Jimmy Hight on
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You have to use your own common sense and when conservatives start talking like rhinos then you know something isn't right. Allowing Obamacare to fail would be a disaster of unknown proportions. We already have too many dependent upon the government and if we don't start trimming this back immediately we will all fail and it will drag us under. The buck has to stop here and now, no more free rides. Balanced budget, fair tax, Constitution back on the wall and in the classrooms. Patriotism and pledge of allegiance back in the schools, Less government, Obama in prison along with all who have helped with the farce, All federal judges fired and replaced with real judges not progressives and communist, I can go on and on but we have to start with this nasty Obamacare and from there bring back honesty and concern for the people's business. I love Charles Krauthammer but he is totally wrong about this.
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Permalink Reply by k.t.borland on
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GO Jimmy! We need more of us paying attention and standing up!
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Permalink Reply by Gary on -
Allowing Obamacare to fail would be a disaster of unknown proportions.?????????????
If it does not fail it will be a disaster!!!!!
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Permalink Reply by mary ann amato on
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Charles K. is not a total Conservative by any means. He supports abortion, for instance. His view of morality is not Christian. Do I admire him? Sure do for his brilliance and grasp of most issues.
Charles, stop seeing things through a secular eye!
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Permalink Reply by Mason Nicholas Catalone on
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I believe in the American system. Capitalism, faith, and Republic. Democracy is something not to encourage.
"Democracy...while is lasts si more bloody than either Aristocracy or Monarchy. remember, Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a Democracy that did not commit suicide." - John Adams
We have a Republic, stop promoting Democracy. We may be the people that run this country, but it is the people we elect that (are supposed to) vote for us in our favor, majority rule.
Back to this issue, you think that when Clinton left office with the economy dropping in 1999, he wasn't going to pin it on the opposite party? He could have saved it if Gore won, but he didn't, because they play party politics. The same is for the Democratic Congress, they are going to pin the economy on the GOP now that they lost. FDR did it during the Depression. he didn't get us out of it, WWII did. Hoover did better for the economy in the future by doing nothing.
If the Dems are going to do nothing and pin the next crash on the GOP, why doesn't the GOP pin Obamacare and the bailouts failing on the Dems? What's fair is fair.
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Permalink Reply by David J Edwards on -
Mr. Catalone - I hope you realize how negative and inflammatory most people will find your words: "Democracy is something not to encourage... stop promoting Democracy"
The American approach to a republican form of governance is *indirect democracy*. The Will of The People is filtered through elected representatives whose loyalty, honor, and intelligence determine how well they serve the Will of The People. The ideal was to prevent the Rule of the Mob from destroying the nation. But something unforeseen has gone wrong. Both democracy AND the Will of The People are being usurped by a clique of the “Powerful Few”… a life-long, career politician Ruling Class with servile hangers-on… not a Mob of screaming, unwashed masses carrying pitchforks, torches, and nooses.
Tell me sir: When the Will of The People has been crippled by ignorance, corruption, and apathy while the loyalty, honor, and intelligence of Congress are in grave doubt, or gone...
Short of Insurrection, how can The People re-assert Liberty through Constitutional Law while also avoiding democracy?
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Permalink Reply by Mason Nicholas Catalone on
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VOTE EM' OUT.
"I beleive it's a preemption of the people's right ot vote for whomever they want as many times as they want."
- Ronald Reagan,
1989, Farewell Address
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Permalink Reply by joseph C Avila on
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You must remember that Charles Krauthammer was a hard and fast liberal before his conservative revelation.
However, as happens with most of these types they can never get totally free from their liberal roots.
It's like a virus which dwells in them and from time to time it surfaces. Kind of like herpes.
They can't help themselves. Michael Medved, the talk radio host, suffers with this disability also.
Imagine them seeing a gangrene infection, they see the infection and instead of immediately wanting to cut it out, they conclude it's better to let it continue, thinking somehow it will do some good.
Liberalism is a mental disorder!
However, it is fortunate they can suppress their affliction most of the time.
© 2013 Created by Judson Phillips.
