Advice to President Obama

[fpb]

So far, you have been brilliant at splitting potential opponents, sir, and I do not understand why you seem to have surrendered this tactic and gone for its opposite when it comes to by far the most important item of your legislative program. Your health reform proposals have fearsome and committed enemies. Why multiply them by insisting on placing abortion among the basic provisions, and allowing your party to shoot down any amendment that would prevent or even limit this? The opposition to abortion in America is formidable, but it only partly overlaps the ideological (and provincial) opposition to socialized medicine. You are shooting yourself in the foot, running the risk of a humiliating and crippling defeat, and strengthening and enlarging the front of your opponents, by this ill-advised behaviour.

Comments

Re: My 2 cents

[fpb.livejournal.com]

The size of American bills do seem to be something outlandish, although we have recently had similar situations with the immense European treaties of Maastricht and Lisbon, which most chambers passed without much discussion. However, these are mostly a condensation of individual measures taken earlier and already in place.

Re: My 2 cents

[mentalguy.livejournal.com]

Also, what are your thoughts on efforts like this one?

Re: My 2 cents

[fpb.livejournal.com]

At first glance, it sounds like an eminently sensible proposal.