Ever tried to dress a two year old who does NOT want to get dressed? They have this way of going "boneless" -- sagging and drooping to the floor on limp-noodle legs, becoming dead weight, making themselves more difficult to lift. And when you try to put their pants on, they kick their little legs and squirm. And the same child who, moments ago, was attempting to climb the bookshelf like a rugged mountaineer now finds it impossible to sit up long enough for you to get his limp little arms through his shirt sleeves.
That is precisely what the Republicans in Congress have been doing on the issue of Health Care Reform.
A time comes when a responsible parent needs to be firm with a reluctant toddler. If it's cold outside, it would be a HORRIBLE parent who gave in to the naughty baby and took him outside in just a diaper. A good parent will be firm and strict and do whatever it takes to make sure little Jimmy or Susie is properly dressed for the elements.
So should it be for Health Care Reform.
The Democratic majorities in Congress and their Democratic president have apparently decided they have had quite enough with the spoiled rotten little GOP baby.
Knowing that what is REALLY needed is a single-payer system that will cover everyone, but understanding that there is no way they could ever get the baby to hold still for that, they tried to appease the child by playing with him as they tried to get him to accept a public option, which everyone agrees will force insurance companies to compete, therefore lowering costs for everyone.
"NO! NO WIKE PUBWICK OPTION!" the baby screamed! "SOCIAWIST!!!"
Ever the patient grownup, the Democrats said, "OK, how about health insurance co-ops? It would be at least better than nothing..."
"NO! NO WIKE CO-OPS! SOCIAWIST! MAWKSIST!"
Exasperated, the grownups asked, "Well then, what DO you want?"
"STATUS QUO!" At which point the GOP baby grabbed a butter knife and started crawling towards the nearest electrical outlet.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!"
The good parent takes the knife from the baby's little fist. They hold on tightly as the baby kicks and screams about "Deff Panohs" and "Iwweguh Immagwants" and "Gubbahmint Takeovah". They're going to put the little baby's clothes on, like it or not. They've decided, like grownups, although it is nice to CONSIDER a baby's feelings when planning its care, sometimes a baby -- BEING a baby -- is not capable of making responsible decisions for itself.
That's why they've decided to do what needs to be done. They're going to ignore the kicking and screaming and crying and diaper-messing of the naughty, naughty GOP baby. They're going to employ the mandate they got in the last election and push through health care reform with their current majorities.
A squalling, crying baby doesn't always know what is best for it. In the past, the GOP has squirmed and figitted and fussed while being fed Social Security, Medicare, MedicAid and Civil Rights legislation -- all of which it opposed vehemently when first proposed. It eventually got used to it, and the nation is better for it.
So shall it be this time.
We might have to put up with a grumpy little baby for awhile... but the end result will be worth it.
And it's about time!
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