It’s not a secret that Republicans don’t like Obamacare. In
fact, House Republicans have voted to repeal, change, or defund Obamacare more
than 50 times in just a little over four years. On Tuesday, February 2, after
the House’s 67th hearing on Obamacare, the representatives voted to
repeal the law in a 239-186 party-line vote; only three Republicans defected
from the party to vote against repeal.
Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you feel
about Obamacare, the repeal is not likely to become law, as Senate Democrats
will undoubtedly attempt to filibuster the legislation. If they fail and the
bill passes, President Obama is sure to veto the bill, and because Republicans
lack a 2/3 majority in both houses of Congress, it is almost impossible to
override a presidential veto on this issue. Republicans know this, which is
why the legislation was not voted on to
become law but rather “to let new Republicans…record their opposition to Obamacare
and make good on the GOP’s campaign promise to go after the law and replace it”
(Washington Post).
If the vote truly is a ploy to make the American people
think that Republicans are keeping good on campaign problems, then this raises
serious concerns over the nature of our government. First, this means that the
Republican platform is not to cooperate with Democrats or to create new
legislation, but to undermine bills that have already been passed. That’s not
progressive or effective government; that’s a set-up for turmoil. Second, a
vote like this does nothing to promote bipartisan cooperation and only
intensifies interparty animosity. Democrats know that Republicans dislike
Obamacare. At this point, they don’t have to waste time, money, and resources holding
a hearing just to prove what the political world and the public already know.
Democrats, however, aren’t guiltless in this game of petty
politics either. Although I understand that many Democrats are weary of having
to combat futile and spiteful Republican efforts to undermine a bill that the
Supreme Court has already deemed constitutional, they cannot stoop to insults
and mockery if they want to win the favor of the American public. They must
take the higher road and avoid, at all costs, feeding fuel to the fire of
anti-Obamacare and anti-Democrat sentiment if they want the law to succeed or a
chance at reclaiming offices in the 2016 elections. Unfortunately, even
experienced lawmakers are being blinded by their emotions.
Most recently, in the same 67th committee debate to
repeal Obamacare, a Democratic Representative from Florida, Alcee Hastings,
resorted to name-calling and insults while debating with the Republican Michael
Burgess of Texas. Here are a few words from their interaction:
Burgess began saying, “Had the administration worked with
the governors, we might be talking about an entirely different [bill].”
Hastings cut him off to say, “Had the administration worked
with the governors? Had the governors worked with the administration we might
not be in this position. I don’t know about in your state, which I think is a
crazy state, and I mean that, just as I said it…”
Later, Burgess remarked, “[The representative] made a very
deflamatory statement about my state, and I will not stand here and listen to
it.”
To this, Hastings replied, “Well fine, then you don’t have
to listen. You can leave if you chose. I told you what I think about Texas. I
wouldn’t live there fore all the tea in China.”
Burgess said in response, “I am used to attacks and
invectives being tossed my way, that’s parts of the territory, but there is no
reason at all to impugn the people, governor of a state of this country, and I
will await the gentleman’s apology.”
Hastings finished the conversation with an offhanded, “You
will wait until Hell freezes over.”
I don’t care what party a politicians is from or how tired
he or she is with the opposing party’s politics; government officials must
treat each other with some semblance of respect. They cannot act in the way that Mr. Hastings has, nor can they aim to undermine legislation that has already been upheld time and time again. Nothing will be accomplished,
just as nothing has been in Congress, when passive and outright aggression
defines interparty relations. So, even though satirizing Representative
Hastings’ remarks may make for a humorous segment on programs like the Daily
Show, they reveal fundamental flaws in our party system.
Neither party is truly working towards cooperation, for, in
the words of Jon Stewart, “We are run by children.”
What do you think, are we really run by children? How do you
feel about Representative Hastings’ remarks; are they a sign of the
degeneration of party cooperation? What do you think about about the
never-ending Republican attempts to repeal Obamacare; are they worse, the same,
or better than Hastings’ behavior? Finally, in our system of petty, ineffective
government, who do you think is crazier: Republicans or Democrats?
Sources:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/02/05/jon-stewart-has-a-horrifying-realization-we-are-run-by-children/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/feb/3/house-votes-repeal-replace-obamacare/
http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/02/05/tsr-bash-rep-hastings-texas-crazy-state.cnn
3 comments:
Sam,
One would like to think that the elected officials would treat each other with respect and kindness. Even more so if they are adults. To hear such a banter between two full grown men resort to name calling is very disillusioning. However, it should be noted that these government officials are under heavy scrutiny for every action that they do. Yet that does not justify their exchange of words.
Obamacare at this point, is a very heavy topic that has been debated for years. Republicans don't want it and the Democrats are divided. We had a whole debate on it during the first semester and it does raise some concerns. Nonetheless, this plan seems to be causing a problem within Congress. Before the election, the Republicans promised that they would try everything in their power to get stuff done. But Obamacare is already causing a deadlock. Furthermore, this altercation between Hastings and Burgess already seems to cast a dark shadow on Congress. Many cannot help but wonder if this is just the start, or perhaps a hiccup. Personally, I hope that the Congressmen can reach an agreement and apologize. Even so, this just illustrates the constant deadlock that has plagued our government for too long. In my opinion, both parties are to blame and that they are also pretty crazy.
Sam,
I can’t believe that an exchange like this is happenings among the people elected to run our country. Seems very highschool-esque to me! In all seriousness, these people have been elected into power by the people of America, and are held to a certain level of expectations (although, aren't we taught in elementary school to respect others?). The behavior of Rep. Hastings towards Rep. Burgess was certainly childish and uncalled for, and if there is not a resolution between the two men, there may be more altercations like this on the way.
I think that this comes down to the ever-increasing party division over controversial matters, ESPECIALLY when it comes to something like Obamacare. We are definitely seeing a degradation of party cooperation here. If our representatives can’t honor the opposing viewpoints on an issue (hello, there are two parties!), then how can we expect any compromise about Obamacare? I agree with Lilly that this altercation has cast a bit of a dark shadow on Congress, portraying it as immature and unstable. I, too, hope that the Congressmen can “agree to disagree” on this matter. Tensions are certainly high and a resolution for Obamacare will not be reached anytime soon, something that the Republicans seem to recognize. I do not think that they should be penalized for attempting to stand up for their beliefs, and I do not think that Hastings should have taken out his anger about the issue in general on Burgess. This altercation highlights the stress in our government from the constant deadlock, and the effect that growing party division has when it comes to interactions between parties.
Sam,
I completely agree with Lilly and Rebecca. I am astonished that elected officials that are respected and looked up to would verbally brawl in such a way. Not only is name calling immature, but the fact that a resolution could not be met between two grown men is unacceptable. However, I do see Lilly's point that they do have very stressful jobs that, after some time, could mount up enough pressure until they burst.
It is clear that Obamacare is currently bringing forth more bad than good. The republicans are very much against the topic, while a divided democratic party tries to piece it all together. This deadlock is creating even more stress and pressure, preventing republicans from completing goals and creating major frustration. This frustration could explain the Burgess vs. Hastings altercation, giving Congress a poor reputation on this topic. For the sake of the integrity of congress, I hope these two men work out their differences, compromise, and move on.
http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/02/05/tsr-bash-rep-hastings-texas-crazy-state.cnn
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