Published: November 02, 2009 10:12 pm         

Leaders hope to make proposals more acceptable

The White House and Democratic-led Congress are smart. They know much of their agenda goes against the very grain of what many Americans believe this country is all about, and they know there are some key words that have been used that make their proposals less appealing.

So, we’re seeing some new terms come out of Washington leaders hope will make their ideas more palatable.

The “public option” portion of the massive health care plan has been roundly criticized from coast to coast by mainstream Americans. Most Americans know the government is the least efficient entity to run a sixth of our nation’s economy. So, the term public option has practically disappeared in favor of the term “consumer option.” That new term sounds more appealing, doesn’t it? We all consume, and we certainly want options in doing so.

But, consumer option or public option, it’s the same misguided idea that government needs to have its heavy hand in the health care decisions of American citizens. The majority of the people don’t want it, and don’t need it.

Then, there’s global warming. A new energy proposal and tax called “cap and trade” is being considered because of the very noble desire to cut greenhouse gases in our country and planet. But, there is some very legitimate debate about whether global warming is natural or man-made. And, there’s also debate about whether the earth is warming or is actually getting into a cooling phase. So, the new term “climate change” has been co-opted by those pushing these proposals. Everyone can probably agree on that term, so pushing that term in the debate seems to make the ideas much more appealing.

And, then, while they’re at it, why not change the term used for the doctrine the president and the leaders in Congress push? They are no longer liberals, they’re “progressives.”

In today’s politics, both “liberal” and “conservative” can be viewed as negative terms, depending on which political philosophy you hold. But who can be against something that’s “progressive”? After all, we all want to progress, or to move forward. The liberals sincerely think that is what they’re doing with some of their most radical proposals. But, the majority of Americans see many of these proposals as heavy-handed and have the real potential for stifling economic recovery for years to come.

As with any new laws or legislation, there are good and bad points to be debated in these proposals. Unfortunately, many of our elected leaders think they have to do “something” when actually, the best thing government can do is do no harm.

Whatever name you want to attach to these proposals is irrelevant. These legislative plans as they stand now are too complex, too massive and its too easy to pass something that will do more harm than intended.