In his Missouri speech to supporters of his health care reform projects a few days before those projects became federal law (alluded to earlier here), Barack Obama quoted, albeit brokenly, Abraham Lincoln. It is a quote he has used several times in speeches since his election. But in the wake of health reform legislation that was "historic" precisely because nothing like it (in sheer size and import) had been passed by such a partisan, ideologically-driven and emaciated majority, Mr. Lincoln's words in Mr. Obama's mouth have a very chilling, even dictatorial, quality.
Here's Mr. Obama:
A big part of our campaign [for the presidency] was about changing the way Washington works. It was about transforming a politics that's driven by cynicism and a 24-hour news cycle, and the cable chatter, and always focused on the next election instead of the next generation. Our campaign was about meeting the looming challenges -- in education and in energy, in our health care system, in our financial system -- that helped bring about the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. And it still threatens our prosperity. It was about making our government actually work for you, the people: a government that lives up to its responsibilities, including the responsibility to live within its means. [...]
You know, President Lincoln said that “the legitimate object of government is to do for the people what needs to be done, but which they can not … do at all, or do so well, by themselves.” That pretty much sums up my attitude. You let people do for themselves what they can do for themselves; and then if there are some things that we do better together, we should do them together. [bold mine, added for emphasis]
It is reassuring to read Mr. Obama will "let" us do for ourselves what we can. I really do appreciate that he has given us his permission.
Here, by the way, is the Lincoln quote (notice how different it is from Mr. Obama's quotation; red letters added to emphasize that difference):
The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves in their separate, and individual capacities. In all that the people can individually do as well for themselves, government ought not to interfere. The desirable things which the individuals of a people can not do, or can not well do, for themselves, fall into two classes: those which have relation to wrongs, and those which have not. Each of these branch off into an infinite variety of subdivisions. The first that in relation to wrongs embraces all crimes, misdemeanors, and nonperformance of contracts. The other embraces all which, in its nature, and without wrong, requires combined action, as public roads and highways, public schools, charities, pauperism, orphanage, estates of the deceased, and the machinery of government itself. From this it appears that if all men were just, there still would be some, though not so much, need for government. [bold mine, added for emphasis]
It will be interesting to see if Mr. Obama (perhaps in deference to various court orders that may be pending) will support those states, and even those individuals, who believe they can "individually do as well for themselves" in controlling, maintaining and paying for their own health care without federal involvement. Of course, we know his answer: Individuals and states can't do it "as well for themselves" as the federal government can do it for them.
In the corporate world, what happened this past weekend regarding health care might be described as something akin to a hostile takeover. Despite overwhelming voter opposition, significant Democratic Party opposition (15% of house Democrats opposed the legislation) and complete Republican opposition, the WE-DO-BETTER-TOGETHER powers of the executive and legislative branches eked out a legislative "victory" regarding health care.
That is historic, I guess. Of course, since there are some things I can't do all that well for myself, I will have to "let" the government tell me what is historic -- and why. Obviously, some of us can't even opine correctly -- for ourselves.
(Alas, Mr. Lincoln, if "all men were just" indeed.)
©2010/Contratimes. All Rights Reserved.
(Alas, Mr. Lincoln, if "all men were just" indeed.)
©2010/Contratimes. All Rights Reserved.
