AJ DiCintio

Massachusetts: Vote! For God's Sake, Vote!
January 18, 2010

The majority of Massachusetts voters usually vote blue; but as they have shown with their red votes over the years, they won't be told how to cast their ballots...by anyone.

Which brings us to Tuesday's election, in which Bay State voters have the opportunity to lead the nation by registering their opposition to two of Washington's policies wisely opposed by landslide majorities:

First, the "improvement" of America's historically vibrant, socially-stabilizing economy by doubling the Federal debt in the next decade — thereby either bankrupting America, ceding much of America's sovereignty to nations that hold our selfish Everest of debt, or saddling America with an incubus of stagnation-inducing tax increases certain to limit the future of our children as well as threaten the social stability of their culture.

Second, the "reform" of America's healthcare system through a de facto Federal takeover of 16% of the economy — with the lion's share of the cost to be laid not on the nation at large but upon the backs of its senior citizens.

Actually, the healthcare debacle, that will be going on in Congress even as Massachusetts voters go to the polls, serves as a metaphor for all the fiscal madness and insult to citizens being served up by Washington's politicians.

Yes, such a monstrosity of 2,000 "reform" pages could be concocted only by politicians luxuriously ensconced at the level of government most removed from "We the People."

...Politicians who propose wringing the bill's bottom line cost from the sweat of the brows and the blood of the hearts of citizens on Medicare.

...Politicians who claim the bill will maintain current benefits while cutting $400 billion from Medicare.

...Politicians who never consulted medical professionals such as Dr. Atul Gawande (of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston), Donald Berwick, Elliott Fisher and Mark McClellan, and others who have offered insightful ideas for preserving the excellence of American medicine while controlling costs — without subjecting the system to the frightful dangers inherent in government-controlled medicine.

...Politicians who conducted their "negotiations" in House and Senate backrooms where powerful interests including unions and "advocacy groups" such as ACORN were warmly welcomed but Ordinary Citizens were shut out.

...Politicians who paid bribes to certain "special" colleagues, unconscionably placing (ironically against their will) all of the proud citizens of states such as Nebraska and Louisiana on Federal welfare while asking people of other states, rich and poor alike, to pay the bill for their shameless grubbing for power.

 ...Politicians who have included in the bill a host of politically inspired non-medical provisions, including requirements for dietary guidance and "diversity" in medical hiring.

Finally, and what a "finally" it is!

...Politicians who just four days before the people of Massachusetts go to the polls, gave the ugly, vulgar, political finger to every decent, honest American by exempting union members only from paying an onerous tax on high coverage health insurance policies.

But whether it is all that has been said above (and more) or this last vulgarity that reminds the people of Massachusetts of their roots, the hope here is that on Tuesday they will vote in a way that honors Buttrick's 1775 cry of "Fire! for God’s sake fire!” and Emerson's song of praise, sung sixty-two years later for every patriot who "fired the shot heard round the world."