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The upcoming health insurance vote is so important to me personally,
first as a moral issue, and second as a practical matter (after being
diagnosed with Parkinson's disease), that I intend to hold all
Democrats -- from President Obama to those Democratic Legislators who
vote "yes" through those Democratic Legislators who vote "No" --
responsible INDEFINITELY into the future, if the final reconciled bill
does not include at least a "public option" for health insurance. To
be clear, under the conditions i just outlined, i will not vote for
any Democrat for anything. I'll stay home on Election Day if the
choice is between a Democrat and a Republican--or vote Green if that
choice is available.
Maybe Ralph Nader was right, even in this past election, in saying
that there wasn't a dime's worth of difference between the Democrats
and the Republicans? Clearly, there isn't much difference between
voting "no" like a Republican, pro-insurance company lackey and voting
"yes" for insurance company approved bill like insurance company
shill, Senator Max Boccus, took his pieces of silver to support. As I
have no direct leverage over the senator from the great big state with
hardly any people (Montana), and considering the nation-defining moral
significance of this decision, the only course left open to me is to
leverage my own Legislators. And I hope that others will join me in
doing so. Let's force Democrats to act like Democrats! We shouldn't
allow Republicans dressed up as Democrats to wag the Party. Blue dog
--- schmue dog: their sh*t stinks.
I'd be willing, even eager, to make an exception for any Democratic
official who calls for and helps secure permits and facilities for a
tent city of supporters camped out on the grass of the Mall, from the
Capitol to the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial--tents and
people as far as the eye can see, sharing peace and music, beginning
after Labor Day and continuing until the reconciliation process ends.
As recently as a few month's ago, i would have bet that our recently
Inaugurated Organizer-in-Chief would have called for just such action.
President Obama hasn't; so someone has to do it. Make my day,
Senator Brown and Representative Kilroy: issue this call. I'd be
there.
Robert A. Letcher, PhD (Cornell, 1994)
Columbus, Ohio
