Look at what came in the mail the other day: Our updated Blue Cross/Blue Shield coverage plan with an important note regarding coverage for dependant children.
Let's go straight to the money paragraph:
Starting this year and continuing on through 2014, the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) will continue to be implemented through federal regulations. As the regulations for its various provisions evolve, some timetables and details may change. Members should check our website www.fepblue.org for the latest information on timeframes and implementation details.(Parantheticals and italics, ours)
Forgive us for thinking that having to check a website to see which and whether laws have evolved portends bad things. Forgive us for believing that is not how you run a constitutional republic.
This is how dictatorships, or at least, kleptocracies happen: bit by bit and piece by piece.
Having seen how his own soup kitchen socialism has failed, Hugo Chavez, using natural disasters as the excuse, has asked the Venezuelan congress for new powers that would allow him to pass laws by decree for one year.
Never let a crisis go to waste.
The Department of Health and Human Services has currently granted 222 waivers to companies and unions from ObamaCare covering 1.5 million people precisely because "We have to pass the bill so you can find out what's in it." Governing by waivers and exemptions is no way to govern. It reeks of cronyism and corruption. And if you do seek a waiver from that thug, Kathleen Sebelius, you had better do it quietly and with hat in hand, or else...
During this past election cycle there was some buzz over here on the right regarding getting behind Mickey Kaus, a Democrat, for Senate. As good as Kaus is on many issues, he supported ObamaCare. Sorry. That was grounds for automatic disqualification. That's how toxic we believe ObamaCare is and we are seeing the results of it before it's even been implemented.
Evolve...? Change...?
That's not a governing philosophy we will abide by.
With Christmas out of the way, we can drop the goodwill and cheer and get on with the airing of grievances. For some related subject matter on the current distressed state of the Union, please see B-Daddy's fine post here and Leslie at Temple of Mut airs it out here.
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6 comments:
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This is how dictatorships, or at least, kleptocracies happen: bit by bit and piece by piece."
Most of the historical examples I can think of off the top of my head involve relatively sudden shifts in power. Russia, Red China, Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein, Castro. Which ones were you thinking of? All it takes is 60 senators and a new POTUS to change things. Given current voting realities that could be done with about 53% of the vote. Wanting to dictate policy without having the necessary votes seems to come closer to a dictatorship.
Steve
I'm thinking Chavez in Venezuela who slowly subverted the rule of law to consolidate power to himself.
Even if we get this mess fixed, why do we have to tolerate the political rent seeking (aka theft through government) that the law actually encourages?
Steve, that is why I did bring up the Chavez example.
And here, think of the power grab by the FCC over the internet and the inordinate amount of power granted to the Dept. of Health and Human Services.
Oh, I forgot about Argentina as an example of a man (Peron) already in power who used his position to leverage, intimidate and decree his way to consolidation of power and a statist paradise.
Nazi Germany may also qualify as Hitler leveraged big gains by the Nazi party in democratic elections in the early 30s in order to get himself named Chancellor.
Hitler's rise was pretty sudden with his takeover done over the course of a few months. Argentina might be a better example.
"inordinate amount of power granted to the Dept. of Health and Human Services."
Granted via an election. This can be reversed with another election.
Steve
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