Obama, Health Care and "Gladiator"
Rizwan Ghani
February 26, 2010
Biden has rejected people betting "fall of America" debates as ridiculous (Like Rome Before the Fall? Not Yet, The New York op-ed dated Feb. 25). Had Biden seen Oscar winning movie "Gladiator" he might have hesitated in taking a position that he took. Without a state there is no future and it is natural for Biden, like any citizen in the world, to stand up for his or her state. I wish things would have been that simple. And every Republican had thought about average American the way Biden is defending his state.
Don´t tell me, Republicans hold state more important than public. After all what good is a state without its citizens? In the same way, what good is a government if it fails to uphold democratic will of the public on health care bill. If people don´t want health care bill, Obama should withdraw it. Honesty and simplicity is the beauty of democracy. Democrats should give public the health care bill it wants. When Democrats came to power with public´s votes they praised Main Street. What has changed since then? It is the same public and it is the same Obama. If they don´t approve the current form of health care, keep bringing health care bills until it is approved by the Main Street. That is what a government is supposed to do. Serve the public. What´s this fuss over Obama´s future. He should talk to America and tell them. "I respect your opinion and here I withdraw the bill in its current form but I promise to be back with a better job".
In "Gladiator" king was killed by his son because he wanted to return power to the people. Biden´s reference to "The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers" by P. Kennedy is a misdirected attempt to learn from history. Secretary Rice was an avid history reader. Look, how bruised and damaged she has left America at the global state with her understanding of history.
America´s appeal to rest of the world is not its wealth, military might or for that matter American dream. It is the perception of law and justice that has carried America this far in global affairs. In health care, it is between Costa Rica and Cuba. Ironically, monthly average salary of ordinary Cuban is less than $25. According to UN OECD 2006 Report America was ranked 25th in education in 44 advance nations. Today there are 76 million poor Americans and some 50 million are without health care insurance.
Biden is going to support his president and the country but despite all this Democrats cannot overrule what public wants on health care. Democrats must understand that it is public not president that matters because by the end of the day it is they who have the power to vote a president in or out.
"Gladiator" was loved in Rome not for his might or bravery but for his resolve to return the power to people of Rome. And he did that before he died. Republicans were booted out of power because they rejected public opinion. Time has come for Democrats to make their call on health care, which has already been rejected by the majority of the Democrats. It is equally true for Iraq war, Afghan occupation, vanishing jobs, getting hold of criminal bankers getting away with bonuses and public money and allowing Wall Street moles to be at the helm of financial policymaking. Will someone stand up and tell Obama to uphold public aspirations because time is running out.
Don´t tell me, Republicans hold state more important than public. After all what good is a state without its citizens? In the same way, what good is a government if it fails to uphold democratic will of the public on health care bill. If people don´t want health care bill, Obama should withdraw it. Honesty and simplicity is the beauty of democracy. Democrats should give public the health care bill it wants. When Democrats came to power with public´s votes they praised Main Street. What has changed since then? It is the same public and it is the same Obama. If they don´t approve the current form of health care, keep bringing health care bills until it is approved by the Main Street. That is what a government is supposed to do. Serve the public. What´s this fuss over Obama´s future. He should talk to America and tell them. "I respect your opinion and here I withdraw the bill in its current form but I promise to be back with a better job".
In "Gladiator" king was killed by his son because he wanted to return power to the people. Biden´s reference to "The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers" by P. Kennedy is a misdirected attempt to learn from history. Secretary Rice was an avid history reader. Look, how bruised and damaged she has left America at the global state with her understanding of history.
America´s appeal to rest of the world is not its wealth, military might or for that matter American dream. It is the perception of law and justice that has carried America this far in global affairs. In health care, it is between Costa Rica and Cuba. Ironically, monthly average salary of ordinary Cuban is less than $25. According to UN OECD 2006 Report America was ranked 25th in education in 44 advance nations. Today there are 76 million poor Americans and some 50 million are without health care insurance.
Biden is going to support his president and the country but despite all this Democrats cannot overrule what public wants on health care. Democrats must understand that it is public not president that matters because by the end of the day it is they who have the power to vote a president in or out.
"Gladiator" was loved in Rome not for his might or bravery but for his resolve to return the power to people of Rome. And he did that before he died. Republicans were booted out of power because they rejected public opinion. Time has come for Democrats to make their call on health care, which has already been rejected by the majority of the Democrats. It is equally true for Iraq war, Afghan occupation, vanishing jobs, getting hold of criminal bankers getting away with bonuses and public money and allowing Wall Street moles to be at the helm of financial policymaking. Will someone stand up and tell Obama to uphold public aspirations because time is running out.
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