The Can't-Do Blue Dogs - Harold Meyerson

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/21/AR2009072102712.html

Watching the centrist Democrats in Congress create more and more reasons why health care can't be fixed, I've been struck by a disquieting thought: Suppose our collective lack of response to Hurricane Katrina wasn't exceptional but, rather, the new normal in America. Suppose we can no longer address the major challenges confronting the nation. Suppose America is now the world's leading can't-do country.

Every other nation with an advanced economy long ago secured universal health care for its citizens -- an achievement that the United States alone finds beyond the capacities of mortal man. It wasn't ever thus. Time was when Democratic Congresses enacted Social Security and Medicare over the opposition of powerful interests and Republican ideologues. In fact, our government used to actually pave roads, build bridges and allow for secure retirements by levying taxes on those who could afford to pay them.

To today's centrist Democrats, this has become a distant memory, a history lesson they cannot grasp. The notion that actual individuals might have to pay to secure the national interest appalls them. In the House, the Blue Dogs doggedly oppose proposals to fund universal coverage by taxing the wealthiest 1 percent of the nation's households. Their deference to wealth -- whether the consequence of our system of funding elections or a byproduct of the Internet generation's experience of free access to information and entertainment -- is not to be trifled with.

But act on behalf of the nation as a whole, even if it means goring Wall Street's or Wal-Mart's oxen? Perish the thought. Pass a health-reform bill that will cover 45 million uninsured Americans and slow the ruinous growth of health-care spending? Not if somebody, somewhere, actually has to pay higher taxes. Hey, we're America -- the can't-do nation.

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I attempted to email this to Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR) but wasn't allowed to since my zip code isn't in his district. I then called is Washington DC office, 1-800-223-2220, but got a recording that everybody was busy. I live in Arkansas and I have a question for Mike. How many in his district make over $350,000 a year? This is freakin' Arkansas! Only the Wal-Mart execs in the NW or Stephens in LR pull in that kind of money. No one in Hot Springs!

They won't because they're owned by the corporations.

we say enough is enough.:kick: