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Happy Dependence Day! (Great Mark Steyn)
National Review Online ^ | March 21, 2010 | Mark Steyn

Posted on 03/21/2010 2:17:19 PM PDT by C19fan

Well, it seems to be in the bag now. I try to be a sunny the-glass-is-one-sixteenth-full kinda guy, but it's hard to overestimate the magnitude of what the Democrats have accomplished. Whatever is in the bill is an intermediate stage: As the graph posted earlier shows, the governmentalization of health care will accelerate, private insurers will no longer be free to be "insurers" in any meaningful sense of that term (ie, evaluators of risk), and once that's clear we'll be on the fast track to Obama's desired destination of single payer as a fait accomplis.

If Barack Obama does nothing else in his term in office, this will make him one of the most consequential presidents in history. It's a huge transformative event in Americans' view of themselves and of the role of government. You can say, oh, well, the polls show most people opposed to it, but, if that mattered, the Dems wouldn't be doing what they're doing. Their bet is that it can't be undone, and that over time, as I've been saying for years now, governmentalized health care not only changes the relationship of the citizen to the state but the very character of the people. As I wrote in NR recently, there's plenty of evidence to support that from Britain, Canada and elsewhere.

More prosaically, it's also unaffordable. That's why one of the first things that middle-rank powers abandon once they go down this road is a global military capability. If you take the view that the US is an imperialist aggressor, congratulations: You can cease worrying. But, if you think that America has been the ultimate guarantor of the post-war global order, it's less cheery. Five years from now, just as in Canada and Europe two generations ago, we'll be getting used to announcements of defense cuts to prop up the unsustainable costs of big government at home. And, as the superpower retrenches, America's enemies will be quick to scent opportunity.

Longer wait times, fewer doctors, more bureaucracy, massive IRS expansion, explosive debt, the end of the Pax Americana, and global Armageddon. Must try to look on the bright side...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 111th; bhohealthcare; dependency; healthcare; liberalfascism; obama; obamacare; socialism
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China must be popping the champaign corks right now.
1 posted on 03/21/2010 2:17:20 PM PDT by C19fan
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To: C19fan

If ya gottem load em...if you don’t, better get on board.


2 posted on 03/21/2010 2:20:48 PM PDT by Mouton
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To: Mouton

Amen brother. To be serious never fired a gun in my life. Perhaps buy a vintage Mauser, hee hee.


3 posted on 03/21/2010 2:21:42 PM PDT by C19fan
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To: C19fan

4 posted on 03/21/2010 2:21:53 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (The Last Boy Scout)
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To: C19fan
Not so sure about the inevitability of this.

I'd like to know the history of the AG's after FDR's power grabs. I bet the states weren't lined up to do challenges. In the 30's people were ready to try the communist experiment. But now that 60% or so of people have invested in the stock market we're in a different time.

Besides BHO is no FDR. He is quite UNPOPULAR and fumbles stuff all the time.

5 posted on 03/21/2010 2:21:54 PM PDT by Siena Dreaming
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To: C19fan; All

6 posted on 03/21/2010 2:22:33 PM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: C19fan

Mark is right. We will have to choose between guns and butter and butter wins every time.


7 posted on 03/21/2010 2:22:45 PM PDT by kabar
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To: C19fan
China must be popping the champaign corks right now.

As are all our enemies, jihadist or otherwise. Then again, it's been one big champagne celebration for them ever since Nov. of '08.

8 posted on 03/21/2010 2:26:21 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: C19fan

“China must be popping the champaign corks right now.”

Every enemy of the United States is dancing in the street today in celebration.


9 posted on 03/21/2010 2:26:59 PM PDT by ought-six ( Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule.)
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To: C19fan

Liberals have finally accomplished what they have wanted for a long time and America will not be the world’s superpower for much longer.


10 posted on 03/21/2010 2:28:07 PM PDT by KansasGirl
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To: C19fan

Won’t f’ing happen. Fifteen states attorney general are suing in a unified suit to vitiate the insurance mandate. Without a mandate this 0bamaCare is dead. All has to do with The Tenth and powers enumerated to the States and this is one of them. We have needed a state vs Fed showdown and this will be the one. We have a decent Supreme Court

Keep the faith this is far from over


11 posted on 03/21/2010 2:31:02 PM PDT by dennisw (It all comes 'round again --Fairport)
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To: C19fan

Manchurian Candidate Obama, probably funded by China during the election, has given China control over the American debt and now he puts into effect a law that will likely give China world control as a superpower... Manchurian Candidate indeed.


12 posted on 03/21/2010 2:32:25 PM PDT by Blind Eye Jones
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To: Mouton
If ya gottem load em...if you don’t, better get on board.

This week for me. Have my permit, took my course but have been procastinating about the purchase. Time to do it before I'm told I can't "for health reasons".
13 posted on 03/21/2010 2:32:33 PM PDT by LostInBayport (2010 - The Second American Revolution. The first shot was fired 1/19/2010 -- here in Massachusetts!)
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To: C19fan

Remember Allbright said it wasn’t right for America to be the world’s only super power. This has been in the making for decades.

The revolution should have started in the sixties. We should have shot the damned anti war protesters.


14 posted on 03/21/2010 2:36:18 PM PDT by Terry Mross (We need a second Sons of Liberty)
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To: UCANSEE2

Is that from Passion of the Christ?


15 posted on 03/21/2010 2:37:49 PM PDT by tbw2 (Freeper sci-fi - "Humanity's Edge" - on amazon.com)
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To: KansasGirl

They have not won yet but it is hard to support troops who no longer serve to fight for freedom but who fight to protect socialism.


16 posted on 03/21/2010 2:38:19 PM PDT by orinoco
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To: tbw2
No, from Monty Python's Life of Brian..."Look on the Bright Side of Life."
17 posted on 03/21/2010 2:42:44 PM PDT by Rocko
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To: tbw2

LMAO....!

No, that from Monty Python’s ‘Life of Brian’...

They’re singing ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’.


18 posted on 03/21/2010 2:42:52 PM PDT by Ethrane ("obsta principiis")
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To: C19fan

The Rats think that even though they will lose in November, government health care is permanent and will become a third rail like SS. No one will dare take away something the government has given. OTOH, this will only accelerate the destruction of the US.


19 posted on 03/21/2010 2:55:18 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (`)
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To: dennisw

“...We have a decent Supreme Court”

Courts in this era do not overturn laws that were passed.
Maybe back in the early 1800’s, but not now.

Sorry to say ...

It’s over Johnny!


20 posted on 03/21/2010 2:57:29 PM PDT by CapnJack
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