Tick Tock Goes the Health Care Bill Clock

It looks like today is the day that dems will have to poop or get off the pot. The health care debate is over and the clock is striking midnight. Will they do it? Or will they not?

A nervous electorate watches on, many unhappy with both process and content, not to mention the way advocates on both sides shill for their desired outcome.

You'd think dems would be trying to assuage voters concerns. But instead of allaying fears that this is a crudely-disguised power play to impose even more government intrusion into their affairs, Obama and others are openly saying this is but a first step toward even more sweeping changes in their health care revolution. That's a good way to calm people down, isn't it?

Even Say It Ain't So, Joe in his carefully thought-out voice of reason says not to worry, they're going to control the insurance companies. Gee, that makes me feel better that there's no intention to go even farther down the road of forced social engineering -- when the government we've got isn't inspiring confidence in anyone.

Reminds me of a Jimi Hendrix song, "Hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand?" But who's he going to shoot? Republicans? Recalcitrant Democrats? Himself?

If he's asking for suggestions, I think it's we the people that need to be shot -- and put out of our misery.

I guess that's why we need health care reform -- our government is making us sick. The problem is, instead of doing something to fix it, they're escalating their battles at our expense. As a result, the cancer is growing and eating us alive.

But that's not the battle they're fighting. Instead, the debate is about health care, as if any bill will give us better health or make us take more responsibility for it.

Evil insurance companies are the problem, especially those who make a profit at our expense, and deny us coverage when we need it most.

But why do we need insurance anyway? Because we are unwilling or unable to accept the risks of the lives we've created and the condition of the bodies we live them in. And instead of dealing directly with our doctors and hospitals, we want a 3rd party to intervene for us and take away our risk -- even if it means great cost or burden on us, our employers, or society.

Health care has become simply another political battle over money, power and influence, and what we're fighting over is who is going to pay for it and how much. That's the world we live in today -- where personal responsibility is reduced to dollars and cents (not sense), determined by those who think they know best.

And since we're unwilling to accept that responsibility, we let them.

So maybe I should be glad for what they're doing today. At least Democrats finally have the courage to stand up for their convictions, even if this bill doesn't reflect the convictions of a lot of them.

After all, they're trying to give us all the gift of better lives (or so they'd like us to believe) because of their selfless service to the cause of freedom and justice in America.

But I'm finding it hard to celebrate the bill's possible passage as a joyous occasion. Something in me is troubled.

I feel dirty, like I'm being asked to sell my soul for a few pieces of silver. And instead of making me feel good about it, they're rubbing my face in the mud and telling me it doesn't matter what I think or want, that they know best and are going to do it anyway.

Freedom and the self-determination to pursue what I think is best for me and my family are the most important things to me -- even more than my life. I try to allow others that same right as well. And right it is, derived from God, not a government that graciously bestows it upon us until it thinks I've had a little too much freedom and needs to take some back.

Health care for all can be a good thing. But does it have to come in this way, with such widespread division where the probable result is a bloated and overreaching government being given even more power over my life?

Yet on the other side, if it doesn't pass, part of me just might feel guilty that I didn't support giving up a little more of those freedoms to help those who struggle to help themselves.

It's a hard choice that weighs heavily on me, one our ring masters are not making any easier.

So while some will be dancing in the street tonight (regardless of how the vote goes), I will be in mourning.

This isn't the way I want our system to serve me. Nor do I want to be at war with my fellow Americans for holding my own principles higher than any benefit they might want to bestow upon me (or burden imposed to get it).

Hopefully one day we'll get more than a health care overhaul. The question is, if that day comes, will it bring greater freedom and opportunity for all?

I pray future generations will forgive us if it does not.