"Stubborn Does Not Win the Day"

Sydney M. Williams

Thought of the Day
“Stubborn does not Win the Day”
February 23, 2010

While Special Forces used horses in 2001 in Afghanistan in their quest for Osama bin Laden, the last time they were used in a Calvary charge was almost 100 years ago during World War I. Their fate was German machine guns. On the other hand, mules (a relative of the horse) were used during World War II. I remember my father telling me of the mules used by his unit, the 87th Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division. He told me that he would have liked to have been a “mule skinner” (one who takes care of mules), but, at five foot ten, he was two inches too short for these big animals. Once in combat in Italy, mules did not fare well.

Mules have a well deserved reputation for being stubborn, something in common with our President, as he resurrected health care reform prior to a scheduled Thursday photo-op (called a health care summit) with Senate and House leadership. Polls indicate very little public support for either the House bill or the Senate version. The President issued his own version, which closely resembles the Senate version, but makes no concession to any Republican proposals, with no mention of tort reform or interstate competition among insurance companies. The entire proposal, as have all Democratic proposals, rests upon a questionable Constitutional provision – mandating insurance for all people.

Universal coverage, a worthy goal, depends upon young, healthy people buying insurance and thereby broadening the base. While I personally believe it a mistake for anyone not to carry health insurance, the concept of requiring people to do so will certainly be challenged.

The President’s version calls for a new federal body to review all insurance company price increases – an added layer of bureaucracy of questionable import at a time of already large deficits. One cannot help but think that this move is nothing more than a shrewd attempt by the President to deflect negative attention from the Democrat’s plan toward the “big, bad” insurance companies. State regulators are charged with reviewing all rate requests (and WellPoint’s California Anthem unit had their infamous rate increases approved without comment last fall). State regulators must ensure that rate increases are actuarially correct and that the company has adequate capital to pay claims. The proposed federal commission could simply roll back prices deemed politically unpalatable.

The President’s proposal also recommends increasing taxes for “wealthy” investors on unearned income, a critical error at a time when the country should be encouraging investment. The expected cost of the plan, which one has to expect is underestimated, is just under a trillion dollars over the next decade – an added burden to an already record budget.

The President is young, bright, articulate and photogenic. There is little doubt in my mind that he will shine, especially in comparison to a number of the older, un-photogenic Republican leadership. But the people have shown an ability to look through style to the substance of the recommendation.

The economy may be in recovery, but it is fragile at best. Unemployment remains high and Congress needs to focus on reforming the financial system. Whatever goodwill the President has with the opposition will take a step back, as he attempts resuscitating healthcare in a public forum and with a plan that makes no concession to republican suggestions. Democrats hope to show Republicans as the party of “no”, intransigent in their refusal to negotiate, but refusal on the part of the President to incorporate any republican proposal demonstrates who is truly stubborn, and we know the fate of those mules in the Apennine hills sixty-five years ago.