Obama fast-tracking the nanny state
by Star Parker - Syndicated Columnist - 6/15/2009

President Obama wants healthcare reform this year.

He said at a town hall meeting the other day that he won't tolerate "endless delay" and that we probably won't reform healthcare if we don't do it this year.

Now why is that Mr. President? Will Congress be on vacation for the remaining three years of your term?

Consider that it's not unusual to take a full session of Congress -- two years -- to pass legislation a fraction of the size and consequence of healthcare reform. Yet our president is demanding that a bill to overhaul a $2.5 trillion sector of our economy -- one sixth of it -- be considered and passed in a few short weeks.

It ought to be clear that this is not about taking an honest and sincere look at how to make this a better country and how to do a better job at delivering healthcare to Americans. It's impossible to look at something this massive and deal with it in such a short time frame.

This is about raw politics. When Mr. Obama says that if we don't get "it" done this year we probably won't get "it" done, he doesn't mean reforming healthcare. He means reforming it the way he and Ted Kennedy want to do it. Government-run, nanny state healthcare.

To pull it off, they have to move fast.

First, the White House knows that Mr. Obama's honeymoon won't last forever. While his personal approval ratings remain high at 60 percent, his disapproval rating now at 33 percent is almost twice where is stood last February. And, in latest Gallup polling, the majority now disapprove of how Obama is handling government spending. So the White House wants action now on healthcare while their man is still popular.

Second, the White House knows that next year is an election year. It will be far more difficult to get senators and congressmen to play ball.

Third, they know that the big reason that Hillary Care failed in 1993 was that the American people were given an opportunity to look at it and consider it. They don't want to make the same mistake of giving voters a chance to actually understand what is about to happen to them. They know that the more Americans have an opportunity to take a look at the bureaucrat-run, nanny state healthcare freight train, the more likely they will jump of the track.

Breathlessness is a great political technique. Telling voters that the world will end if we don't get X passed now.

This is how the $800 billion dollar "stimulus" bill got passed earlier this year. We were flashed images of the Great Depression of the 1930s and told our only hope is the stimulus bill.

Now, three months later, it's clear that our current economy bears no resemblance to the 1930s, that signs of recovery are emerging, and thus far only six percent of the $800 billion "stimulus" pot of political lard has been spent.

The trillions in new debt have been piled up at such a dizzying pace in the last few months Americans are numb. The federal government take from our economy has jumped from one-fifth of it to one-fourth.

Now, Mr. Obama and his Democrat colleagues want to layer on a new government healthcare plan to "compete" with private plans. "Compete" means raising taxes a few trillion dollars to provide subsidized insurance, and in some cases, free insurance, through a government plan in which all Americans will eventually wind up -- and putting federal bureaucrats in charge of approving what healthcare procedures we are permitted.

The healthcare nanny state freight train is moving. Will we wake up before it's too late?

inside city hall, 6-17-09

Yes, it was hot. No, there were no vegetables. Neither could be helped. We tried, but sometimes our efforts fall short. We have no control over the weather, or the plants that grow the vegetables. They just weren’t ready to let go of their pride.

The challenge is still out there for next week, IF anyone has fresh vegetables, please bring them to town. There is plenty of space around the square, and if you get there early you can have your pick of the shady spots. It was comfortable in the shade for most of this morning. Many people asked about the Farmer’s Market, they were expecting to see vegetables there, maybe next week. I hope so.

There were fresh flowers in front of city hall: Jim Dillon brought a trailer load. They must have been in demand, because Jim was soon gone. Thank you Jim for coming over to help celebrate Munday.

I counted 13 different sales going on downtown, I couldn’t count all the different ones going on out in the neighborhoods. There were some large ones and several smaller sales going on. I passed through Longhorn country on my travels on the west side. A special thanks to everyone who set up a sale. You all deserve a gold medal.

Someone asked me Saturday evening how I felt about the day. It was encouraging, really. People acted like they were genuinely happy to see each other. I was especially happy to see the out-of-towners treated like homefolk. Burkburnet isn’t that far away: Those folks will be back in September, maybe even July 4th for our parade. I felt a fall spirit in the air Saturday morning, just a hint of a cool breeze and people swapping smiles all over the place. It was beautiful.

My first month as mayor has been encouraging. The city council meeting was smooth: everyone did a great job of participating, asking questions and making motions. It was a pleasure to chair this meeting. I believe we will do a good job for Munday and have fun doing it. If ya’ll have a chance to talk to any of us on the council, tell us what you like about Munday. If there’s something you don’t like, tell us anyway. But, tell us how you think it could be improved. Please don’t tell us, “I don’t like so-and-so,” and then hush. Tell us what’s missing. We honestly need to know what you think.

The Keeping Munday Beautiful meeting Thursday evening was lively, maybe even a little exciting. People were stiff-arming others just so they could volunteer to serve, to help keep Munday moving ahead. I say again, it was encouraging. Folks it won’t be long until we will have a first rate production in that little rock church. Things are moving ahead with more steam than a month ago. Call 422-4438 and ask how you can plug in to some of this excitement. Watch out for the stiff arm though.

Karen Longan, director of Keeping Munday Beautiful and Artistic Director for the Old Rock Church Playhouse announced that the first production will be at the Downtown Park July 25. The play Sylvia will be inacted by the Playhouse players. (All of these names stand to be corrected.)

Keeping Munday Beautiful has accepted the responsibility of cleaning around the 277 overpass. There are four quadrants, or corners, to clean. Three out of the four have been taken on by different individuals or groups. One hasn’t: it’s first come, so step up and take it on. TXDOT contractors are supposed to clean the actual roadside. I did say supposed to, didn’t I.

Market Munday every chance you get.