We’ve all heard the expression:  ‘when eating an elephant, take one bite at a time’.  All,  that is, except the U.S. Congress which seems intent on strangling itself trying to eat huge bites at one time – in the fantasy of undoing the sins of past administrations. Our unenlightened elected representatives seem hell-bent on plunging off a cliff in their zeal to lampoon the efforts of the opposition party.

Take Obamacare.  How big is that bill?  The Washington Post estimates between 22,000 and 33,000 pages!  OMG. Who could ever read it, much less understand it. And how could one repeal it without having a replacement?  The idea is ludicrous.

Instead of killing this healthcare elephant which, most of us will agree, is distasteful in numerous ways; why not address the ten most onerous provisions (Mandates) and suggest modifications? Oh no. Instead, Republicans seem obsessed with jumping off the cliff carrying the banner:  repeal Obamacare. This makes no sense if there is nothing to replace it. After wasting eight years they have been unable to construct a plan that meets the needs of the public. Instead, they continue placating the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. Health costs continue to skyrocket, doctors in ever-increasing numbers are bailing out of medicine and the quality of care has plummeted. What a disgrace.

Next comes Tax Reform.  The U.S. tax code alone is 73,964 pages, not including state and local tax regs. How in heaven’s name are they going to replace that mess with a single bill, (assuming the House and Senate could ever agree on a common language)? It is mission impossible and doomed to fail – fail to serve the needs of the public, that is.  It will certainly serve the lawyers, accountants and lobbyists who are the only voices being heard inside the beltway. Why not fix it at the margins?  Eliminate favorable treatment for Wall Street’s Carried Interest benefits. Make it possible for corporations to repatriate profits being sequestered in tax havens around the world. Mandate that large banks must lend a minimal percentage of assets to U.S. businesses and pay a reasonable interest rate on savings accounts owned by individuals.  These actions would go much farther toward balancing the budget than eliminating the death tax which only affects 0.2% of the population (one out of every 500 people who die).  Again, and I repeat.  What a disgrace.

How silly of me!   Why should I expect morally bankrupt congressional leaders to take time from defending their sexual peccadilloes to look after the health and well being of their uncaring, uninformed constituents?   What a disgrace.

Maybe, just maybe, that damnable elephant will roll over on them and spare the rest of us in its gesture.

You are welcome.

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