Massachusetts Brown Out

Just six short months ago, during one of my typical rants on hypocritical government practices, I focused in on Massachusetts, and its vacant Senate seat. (See older blog here.) As you may recall, Massachusetts' legislature had previously voted to take away the governor's constitutional right to select a replacement for open US Senate seats. This was done in 2004, when Sen. John Kerry was leading the polls in that year's presidential election and the Massachusetts' governor at the time was a Republican, Mitt Romney. So, in 2009, when Sen. Ted Kennedy died, the very same Massachusetts legislature overturned that vote and returned the power to the governor, Democrat Deval Patrick. How convenient. FYI, this fact got very little press. I think the fact that my blog has mentioned it twice is two more times than most of the leading news bureaus.

Hold the phone. Scott Brown? Republican Scott Brown? Taking the seat once held by Ted Kennedy? You have got to be kidding me.

I will tell you, I did not see this coming. Sure, in the last week leading up to the special election, when the polls were telling me it was possible, I tuned in. But prior to that? No way. THE MOST LIBERAL STATE IN THE UNION ELECTED A REPUBLICAN WHO CAMPAIGNED AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION'S AGENDA!!!

But not so fast. I am so grateful that our elected officials are smarter than we are. Despite the outcome of the election, and despite the fact that exit polls showed that BY FAR, the leading reason for the election's outcome was based on people's opposition to the Healthcare Plans approved in the House and Senate, our leaders have concluded otherwise. Again, I say, thank goodness we have elected officials smarter than the American people. They say the reason why people are against the plans is because they didn't approve of the process. A HA! That's what it is! They didn't like the process! Gotcha!

Perhaps, just possibly, is it remotely possible that the people who voted in Massachusetts were smart enough to know what was in the plans? Is it remotely possible? And perhaps, just possibly, that people might not have liked them?

If you can humor me just for a moment, and consider the ever-so-remote possibility that the same electoral community who elected Ted Kennedy senator for 47 years might have known what was in these plans AND DIDN'T LIKE THEM, how best to respond to the people?

Well, our current administration says, "they'll like these plans once we pass them, they just aren't happy with the process". Got it. Thank you for basically letting me know that you are smarter than I am. So, if CSPAN had broadcast the healthcare negotiations as Candidate Obama had promised, the American people would be cool with the deals Louisiana and Nebraska got. Because you see, the plans are well-liked. It was just the process that was the problem. And thank goodness the unions are exempt from "cadillac taxes" on their "cadillac plans". But if you have the SAME EXACT PLAN and you are NOT in a union? Taxes come your way! Yes, Mr. President. You are right. We LOVE these plans. We just didn't like the process. Thank goodness you are here to explain our views for us. I am so grateful to have you.

I am going to let my employees know that I am going to take some of their vacation time and give it to people who are not working. Essentially, that's what the health plans will cause me to do. As a small business owner who would get clobbered with new taxes to pay for these new plans, I would need to reduce pay of my employees (which I would do through no increases, reduced vacation time, etc.). They won't be happy with it. But thank you, Mr. President, for the example you have set for me. I'll let them know that they like the plan, but that they didn't like the process.