"When you rush these budgets that are a foot high and nobody has any idea what's in them and nobody has read them...It gets rushed through without any clear deliberations or debate, then these kind of things happen. And I think it is some ways what happened to the [Fill in a politicized piece of legislation from the past]. I mean you remember there was no real debate about that. It was so quick after [fill in with challenging time in our country] that it was introduced that people felt very intimidated by the administration."
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5 comments:
President Obama in 2004, referring to the Patriot Act following 9/11. I find it very disingenuous to rush through massive health care legislation without the same scruitiny that he required for the Patriot Act or other "republican" legislation. And what happened to the "transparency" in this administration, especially with the promise of posting legislation on the internet 5 days in advance, and allowing enough time for congressmen to read through a bill thoroughly. The only real "change" that has happened in Washington is the political party who is calling the shots.
While I agree that no legislation should be rushed through, I happen to see a huge difference between the Patriot Act and health care reform. While they are both important, the Patriot Act TOOK AWAY civil liberties for our entire nation. Took away freedoms. Personally, I believe that in this great land of liberty any step toward taking away freedoms and liberties we already have in place is a step in the wrong direction.
And I agree. What did happen to the "transparency"? Definitely a lingering question...
I agree the Patriot Act went completely beyond the freedoms granted the nat. government in the constitution. With 20/20 hindsight, hopefully we've learned from that, and won't do repeat the past.
The argument I could make on behalf of conservatives in regards to your comment would be this: how many people do you know that the Patriot Act has personally affected? I don't feel any different (besides travelling) than I did before 9-11 regarding personal freedoms. Yet, how many people will be personally affected by this legislation. You will argue for the better, but it is still giving the national government power (which you argued was bad in regards to Pat. Act).
My problem with the Patriot Act was not giving the government power (although I do have issues with federal power). My problem with the Patriot Act is taking away civil liberties. It does not matter to me whether I feel it or not. I do not like the government making it legal to spy on American citizens. That is wrong and un-American. Plenty of innocent people have suffered because of the Patriot Act. One of my favorite quotes: "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." --Benjamin Franklin
I am not arguing FOR this health care reform -- especially not the way they are going about it. I feel like it is trying to "band-aid" the problem rather than get to the root of the problem and FIX it. I simply do not feel that you are comparing apples to apples when looking at both of these pieces of legislation.
Fair enough!
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