Dear editor:

I watched much of the health care debate today. When President Obama adjourned the summit after hours of debate, I doubt that much of the gap between Democrats and Republicans had narrowed. Both sides used talking points to reiterate positions first articulated months ago. There was a lot of posturing, but neither side was prepared to modify its positions. It was necessary political theater because Barack Obama had promised openness and televised negotiations. Up to today, the formulation of the health care bill had excluded Republicans and produced some odiferous results such as special benefits to special interests – exactly the opposite of what candidate Obama had promised.

Where does the debate go from here? I suspect that the question will fall to the Democrats, who will try to push the health care through Congress by ” Budget Reconciliation.” That requires only 51 votes in the Senate rather than 60 votes to approve cloture and stop a filibuster. Nothing of the size of this health care program has ever been passed by budget reconciliation. Health care affects about one-sixth of our economy.

If the Democrats do use reconciliation to jam health care through Congress, the coming difficult election year for Democrats may become a catastrophe for them. That is the genius of our democratic system.The people always get the last word. We’ll know in about eight months. Neither of Michigan’s senators is up for reelection this year.
Nevertheless, they should heed the very negative polling concerning President Obama’s health care proposals. Their turn will come in 2014 or 2016 if they do not listen to Michigan’s voters.

Michael L. Waldron
Niles