‘Absolute Power Corrupts — Absolutely’

To The Editor:
The Feb. 25 televised GOP/Administration bipartisan “love-in” wasn’t very productive for health-care reform.
For the most part it was civilized political theatre, save for a few contentious moments when Lamar Alexander and the president disagreed on interpretations of Congressional Budget Office (CBO) numbers on savings/cost.
The GOP congressional types were respectful of the president, but it was clear he was in charge, steering the “debate.” At times I thought the president was a tad imperious, grinning his way through opposition arguments.
Who won? It certainly wasn’t the American public. But I think the GOP folks scored in a couple important areas. First they demonstrated that, contrary to Democrat claims, they did indeed have ideas, good ones too, which I thought put the lie to the Dems “Party of No” mantra regarding the GOP.
Second, the GOP started to sound more like its traditional self: Smaller government, and a role as spending and deficit hawks. Lamar Alexander and Paul Ryan were particularly well prepared.
But let’s not be fooled; all this political theatre is about power, disguised as a concern for the American nation. It may be cynical, but I have come to believe that genuine concern for us, removed from “Beltway Think,” is also political theatre. A charade aimed at installing one party or the other in power. In that regard it seems it is bad medicine for the nation to have just one party in control, with majorities in both houses and control of the White House. Currently we seem to be experiencing a surge of Progressivism and tendencies toward a Nanny state. We poor stupid slobs out here in the land, just don’t seem to get the wondrous benefits our sage elected officials in their elitist perches are offering, to save us from ourselves.
Recall the admonition of Madison; I believe in the Federalists Papers. “Beware the tyranny of the majority.”
Party of No? It is the moral and constitutional obligation of the opposition to challenge the ideas of the party in power. The Founders saw the wisdom in this, still valid today. Sadly, it is still true of the human condition: Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
BOB LOVELL
Court House