OPINION:
Polling shows that a majority of Americans either oppose or fear the pending health care legislation by significant pluralities. Issues that generated the most opposition are still in the legislation: abortion funding, health panels, taxes, public options, pork and support for community organizers.
Fears of a massive government takeover of health care appear to be well-founded. Within 48 hours of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s announcing the filing of the bill, there were reports of a pending 800-page “Manager’s Amendment” resulting in a nearly 3,000-page bill - 3,000 pages in advance of additional amendments!
To say that the legislation is unintelligible to the average person is an exercise in draconian understatement. The demand that legislators read the bill is likely untenable. The very idea that we are capable, as citizens, of comprehending the bill, with its legislative doublespeak and references to a never-ending list of other pieces of legislation, is enough in and of itself to create an atmosphere of suspicion that asks, “What are they trying to hide and why?” Of course, it is a question that in all likelihood will remain unanswered.
The Congress, under the speaker’s leadership, appears unconcerned with what the public thinks. Evidently the “People’s House” belongs to someone else now.
DENNIS LANDRY
South Riding, Va.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.