I really like Paul Krugman, especially when he is crossing swords with George Will, who I also like. However, sometimes the parasol of "Nobel Prize Winner" casts a wider shadow than it deserves. His prize was for his excellent work on the dynamics of why businesses stay local or migrate globally, sometimes against their best interests, is indeed noteworthy. But, it does not necessarily make him any more of an expert than you or I on Global Warming, Health care or Economic Stimulus.......well perhaps on economic stimulus.
However, this time he has hit the nail smack dead center on the head. These guys can't have it both ways. Was it on Klick & Klack, the Car Guys that one of the call in listeners suggested that all elected officials should wear NASCAR like uniforms, so we could more easily identify their corporate sponsors?
This is so good that I am posting it complete and unedited. Thanks, Paul.
July 17, 2009, 8:28 pm
The six deadly hypocrites
Will the destructive center kill health care reform? It looks all too possible.
What’s especially galling is the hypocrisy of their claimed reason for delaying progress — concern about the fiscal burden. After all, in the past most of them have shown no concern at all for the nation’s long-term fiscal outlook.
Case in point: the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, which denied Medicare the right to bargain for lower drug prices, locked in overpayments to private insurance companies, and did nothing, nothing at all, to pay for its proposed outlays. How many of these six self-proclaimed defenders of solvency voted no on the crucial procedural vote? One. (Joe Lieberman, to my surprise.)
And let’s not forget that Ben Nelson, who appears to be the ringleader, has fought tooth and nail against competition from a public option — which would almost certainly save a significant amount of money, as well as providing much-needed competition.
If the Gang of Six really does kill reform, remember their names; they will bear the responsibility for vast, unnecessary suffering over the years to come.
