Socialized Healthcare – Another Shining Example of the Obama Commitment to Transparency

We happen to have a president who campaigned on and has continuously touted openness in his government.  He even issued a memo.  I may be crazy, but I don’t think anyone got that memo, especially his cohorts in Congress.  The preamble of the memo states:

My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government.  We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government.

I only have one question.  With no transparency, no public participation and absolutely no collaboration in the development of this healthcare fiasco, why should the public trust anything about this administration and liberal Congress that brought it about?

It has become painfully clear that the claim to be transparent is nothing but more rhetoric of the left to further their agenda….  a means to an ends.  I really miss the days where people’s words actually meant something.  When questioning the genuineness of man's promises was unheard of and unnecessary.  But, because we the people have allowed our elected officials to believe that they can say anything without recourse,  we must now question every word that comes out of their mouth.

In a town where consensus is so elusive, greater transparency in the legislative process should be an issue all sides can agree on.  Unfortunately, this isn't the case.

The unwillingness of the Left to open the doors of the legislative process to the American people can do nothing but amplify the already historical level of mistrust they currently enjoy.  During the healthcare bill markup process in the Senate Finance Committee, a flurry of amendments were offered and among them was a proposal by Senator Jim Bunning (R-Kentucky) that the bill must be posted online for 72 hours before any votes.  The amendment was defeated largely along party lines.

Our founding fathers believed deeply in the idea that our government would work best when it governs “by consent of the governed”.  This consent is given by requiring our elected representatives to frequently run for re-election and gain the support of their constituency.

In other words, consent does matter.  But we can only provide true consent if we the people know what the laws being passed contain.  If legislators refuse to post their bills for people to see, consent is impossible.

President Obama has failed to  live up to his promise of a more transparent government as our country finds itself at this critical juncture in its history.  We the people need remind those members of Congress who failed to consult with their constituents and get their consent before voting for a massive expansion of the federal government during their next attempt to gain our support.