Tag: Lipstick On A Pig

Jack Hoogendyk, highlights some contemporary examples of how some politicians reach the truly ignorant among us .. and themselves.  

Politicians have been using euphemisms to sell bad ideas for years. When they can't get a new government program through because everyone knows it will expand government and/or take away freedom and individual choice, they just come up with a good-sounding name. Examples:

• H.R. 3567 or "The Respect for Marriage Act" repeals the federal Defense of Marriage Act, states have the right to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
  
• The "Employee Free Choice Act" (H.R. 800) replaces the existing secret ballot elections for union membership with a system in which workers must publicly sign union cards; in effect, no free choice.

..

As strategic National (Yob's political consulting firm) looks forward to 2014 and an expected continued representation of Rick Snyder's campaign efforts, he will have to overcome one particular obstacle; The governor himself.  Perhaps even the governor's staff and surrogates.  As brilliant as some of those operatives within Strategic National might be, the 'pig' that is the governor's reelection chance might be far too gone for lipstick and a little rouge.  

Especially given yesterdays grass roots announcement and letter.  The announcement was picked up by all of the state papers, and has gathered attention even nationwide. However, Snyder's mouthpiece Sara Wurfel says:

"As an (accountant), Gov. Snyder knows there's a strong case that this Medicaid component is the financially responsible and smart thing to do while also being the right thing to do, both short- and long-term for Michiganders and our state's economy and health status,"

Think along the lines of the Congressional Budget Office(CBO).  IF, given all the input it was supposed to have had before offering an opinion to congress on the ACA in the first place, it might not have offered such a rosy picture of the plan's finances to that congress.  Adding the 'unforeseen' costs (we saw them and said so - but ..) that have made it already unworkable, we can do little but laugh at his 'accounting' skills. There are always costs which are held off the books till it is too late to do anything about the overall plan.  One of the conservative activists Jeri Leroi who is on the list in opposition, makes a valid point today in one of her email broadcasts:

"Keep in mind, in the past the federal government has robbed the Medicare budget to pay for the increase in medicaid.   Medicare recipients have paid into the medicare program for over 40 year before receiving any benefits at all.  We pay a co pay and extra premiums for hospital care which are also scheduled to go up under Obamacare.  The Medicaid recipients have not paid into this program, whole families have stayed on it for life.

She also influences many within our community.