For many long years, Republicans swore about, derided, maimed, and campaigned against the health care act, known as “Obamacare,” which was passed and made into law, without a single Republican vote. Republicans passed bills abolishing it many times, obviously without success. Trump and all Republican candidates, ran on a platform of abolishing it, and replacing it with something a lot better. What happened? What happened, is that a small group of Republican Representatives calling themselves the “Freedom Caucus,” of about 30 members, thought the bill was not nearly ‘libertarian’ enough, so they said they would vote against it. A few ‘moderate’ Republicans also decided not to vote for it also, and it failed. Rather than risk a vote which would fail, Speaker Ryan pulled the bill.
The failure of the Republican bill, which would have replaced Obamacare, was a vote against their party, the platform they ran on, and a promise Donald Trump made a hundred times, which was “We’ll get rid of Obamacare, and replace it with a much better law.” The “Freedom Caucus,” ran on abolishing it in their campaigns also, and then killed its possible replacement. Possible, because the bill would have undergone many changes before it got to the Senate. No one is any more of a Libertarian than me. When I lived in Arizona, I was Maricopa County chair of the libertarian Party, and the two books mentioned at the end of this column, are certainly very much libertarian. I have given away probably a hundred “Atlas Shrugged” books, written by Ayn Rand, which actually started the libertarian movement and subsequent party. No bill or law is perfect to everyone, and probably not to anyone, but politics doesn’t run that way. The few moderates who promised to vote no, and the freedom guys who promised the same, is a perfect example of no law or bill suiting everyone. Unfortunately, politics is ALWAYS a compromise, and without a compromise, nothing would ever be accomplished, be it in marriage, business, politics, or law. Ever hear of a wife and husband agreeing on everything, and not compromising? I don’t agree 100% or even 85% of anything or anyone. I don’t think there is a church, political party, car brand, woman, restaurant, book, or philosophy, I would agree with completely. That bill, which failed, was certainly not 100% or even maybe 75% to my liking, but that was only a first step, which got the whole process going, and if it had passed, much more work and compromise would have been done to allow it to pass the Senate. It would have allowed Trump and the party to have carried out their promises to get rid of Obamacare and replace it with something lot better. The failed bill was a lot better than Obamacare.
The failure of the bill, by maybe a dozen votes, was in actuality a betrayal of the President and the campaign promises of all Republicans. A betrayal, which will be difficult to overcome. A betrayal, which will make Donald Trump and the Republican Party have to work much harder to overcome such a betrayal. The Democrats and media are shouting for joy, as a result of this betrayal. Were I in Congress, I would have voted for it, even though it might have left a bad taste in my mouth. Why? Because the Republican Party needed that victory, and needed it badly. Probably only a dozen caused it to fail and caused their own party to become the laughing stock of the opposition, and I am disgusted. The “Freedom Caucus,” should be ashamed. Not because their complaints were not legitimate, but because of sheer stubbornness, and total failure to look at the big picture. Their failure to compromise on just the very first, preliminary part of the process to eliminate and replace Obamacare, has blown the whole thing, and brought to their party, ridicule, mockery, and joyful sarcasm of their liberal, Democratic enemies. The promised “no” voters need to be chastised, not Ryan or the writers of the bill, who compromised and futilely attempted to change the bill to their liking, but to no avail. You dozen or so should hang your heads in shame!
My books, “Consequences,” or “I Hold These Truths,” can be had by sending a check for $9.95 for each, to Don Stott, 222 S. 5th St, Montrose CO. 81401.