Health Care for My Masters

Haute Route - photo by JoAnn Sturman

Scott Sturman

Soon after his presidency began, Barrack Obama traveled the globe on an apology tour, apologizing to anyone who would listen about America’s shortcomings.  Hat in hand, he challenged the concept of American exceptionalism, an argument the Muslim world quickly embraced.  His cheerleaders of the Left called for the repeal of the 22nd Amendment and showered him with the Nobel Peace Prize.  Curiously, four years later he pleaded his case to the world to bomb Syria and proclaimed that the United States was–well, exceptional!  Is this a case of political flexibility or schizoid behavior?

So which is it?  Is America exceptional or not?  Obama Care, the cornerstone of his Presidency and harbinger of national health care, offers some clues.  But first some historical background:

Royalty and elitists were held in contempt by the Founding Fathers.  They believed in the exceptionalism of the common citizen and were deeply distrustful of politicians, who invariably maneuvered to consolidate and further their power.  The thought those who governed were entitled to live under different rules than those who elected them was abhorrent.

One of the most controversial aspects of Obama Care is the exemption of Congress to participate in the program.  A cynic could ask justifiably, “If the system is so superior, why would our leaders opt out?”  Yet more relevant questions are, “Why would anyone vote for a politician who denies them the same access to health care?  And why would the President, who favorite word is fairness, refuse to insist the Affordable Health Care be the law of the land?”

The President and his supporters of the Left do believe in exceptionalism–the exceptionalism of the politically elite.  This perversion is understandable from the point of self serving politicians, who do not trust the government to care for their families, but for the voters who support them it is a different story.  They truly must believe in their own unexceptionalism and nod in agreement as their President reminds them of it.  

San Joaquin River at Jackass Flats - photo by JoAnn Sturman