I am not talking about GOP arguments against Obamacare, their promises to repeal it or any new plans.   I am talking about passed (past) legislation that can be reviewed in practice.    I am talking about [...]]]> The short answer as with many large policy issues is “Absolutely and to the core of their policy direction.”

I am not talking about GOP arguments against Obamacare, their promises to repeal it or any new plans.   I am talking about passed (past) legislation that can be reviewed in practice.    I am talking about a comparison between the GOP HSA Healthcare plans and Obamacare.    I talked about this before when I was investigating HSAs.    I have since joined my HSA compatible plan and linked up my Health Savings Account.

Simply reading through the documentation, I was struck at how different this is from the discussions and legislative language of Obamacare.   I think a side by side comparison of the basic philosophies in these two models is worth noting.

Health Insurance; what’s that?

At the core, an HSA is Health Insurance not a Health Plan or Health Coverage.   In an HSA the premiums are low (mine less than $200 a month) and the deductibles are high ($3000).      It covers only yearly exams until you reach that $3000 maximum and then it covers you 100%.  Some plans have a 80/20 split window to another maximum out-of-pocket.   I elected for the 0/100 to 100/0 option.

Obamacare and the health exchanges are Health Coverage with higher monthly premiums and co-pays.   You pay each month into a pool to cover the majority of expenses.  That pool is then used above and beyond your co-pay , 80/20, 70/30 or 50/50 split to pay the medical practitioner up to your out-of-pocket maximum.   In most cases the total out-of-pocket maximum exceeds the $3000 I selected.

Tax Deferral

The HSA term itself  really refers to the bank account (Health Saving Account) that you link to a high deductible (HSA compatible) health plan.   The money that you put into that account can be used to pay medical expenses, buy prescription drugs,  other medical services and over the counter medications.    You can put whatever money you need into the account but the first $3000 is tax deductible (or pre-tax in the case of a payroll deduction).    Note that the deductible and the maximum contribution are the same… this is not a coincidence.   The short strokes:  You use tax free money to pay your medical bills.

In traditional health care plans your monthly premiums and Flexible spending account contributions where also paid tax free.

Obamacare did not leave this untouched.    The total cost of your health care plan is now part of your paycheck and you will be taxed (as income) on the coverage that exceeds the government regulation.   Though this may not directly tax you on the payments you are making, it can have a tax impact if you have elected high valued coverage options.

Who is swimming in my Risk Pool?

In my case the HSA is individual insurance.    If I have a huge outlay of expenses, I draw against my savings until the $3000 and then insurance covers the rest.   If that expense has ongoing repercussions, my premiums could be raised or I could be dropped.   This is simply a fact that my potential to repeatably cost the insurance company money in excess of my $2400 premiums has now been increased.   Same as car insurance and those with frequent accidents.

Side note: I approve of  the Obamacare goal to limit insurance companies from dropping people outright due to increased usage.   I believe that some cap on year over year increases (due to usage [not inflation]) should be put in place.     When I entered into this agreement with the insurance company, they agreed to take on some risk.  They should not reserve to right to cancel at any time when that risk does not pay out.    However, I also understand that they are a business and cannot be required to lose money year over year simply to benefit me.    I think a simple 25% usage-based premium increase cap and a 3-5 year contract period should be in place.   If after that time I am still a losing proposition they can set me free.

I also believe that some sort of shared risk pool should be created among insurance companies to mitigate these outlays (aka insurance for insurance companies).    This will protect their business models, they likely do this today in some form.

I know it is possible to have HSA compatible plans in a corporate structure.   This is a slightly larger to much larger pool that mitigates risk.     This mitigated risk pool is usually a social contract entered into as a benefit* of employment.

*It is a benefit to those in the high risk area and a increased cost to those in the low risk pool.

Obamacare hopes to set up a larger more public risk pool among millions of US citizens.  Asking healthy citizens to pay more to give coverage to the poor and provide coverage at a huge discount to the unhealthy and the currently uninsurable.

Basic Truth

In the final analysis the basics are this:  Freedom and Individual choice (with individual risk) versus Government control and shared risk (with shared expense).

8/27.

1.  Liberals really are rude…and easy to [...]]]> I wanted to give a few anecdotes from our days in DC.    Not a review (you can find that here) of the rally but rather a set of events that give the weekend a greater context and flavor.   I hope you find them educational, if not entertaining.

8/27.

1.  Liberals really are rude…and easy to spot.  It is a fun game when in DC.

After walking the mall for 4 hours we were looking for  place to sit, rest our feet and have a drink, we asked the Capital Guard for a suggestion.   He sent us down a side street and we found an outside table at Hamilton’s.    We soon learned this was a locals hangout;  people arriving in pairs and singles to join up with groups after work.   We offered our spare chairs to a growing group and then slid over one of our two merged tables.   They took the charity graciously, but then we overheard them jokingly taking a poll about who would be attending the rally in the morning.  They all laughed and the game was afoot.   Each new person that arrived was judged as Left or Right, it was really easy.   Walking shyly, not looking the bouncer (or others in the eye), still wearing your tie… Liberal.   The two that threw us off were a younger pair of men dressed in business casual.   They seemed confident, yet probably worked here we guessed GOP staffers.    They joined a table that looked like 8/28 attendees.    We found found out later they worked for Johnny Isaacson and one of the 8/28 attendees was father to one of the men.  One other gentleman created a debate.   He was tall older man (50s) with strong features but did not show outward confidence.   He was not drinking wine but the sale beer of the house.    All was decided when he got up to leave, slung his fabric “briefcase” across his chest and over one shoulder and sauntered past.    It was a fun game but can only be played in rare locations.   I look forward to the chance to play again.

2.  Why is a Liberal Rally so angry?

While at the capital, a rally was going on to free someone “unjustly prosecuted” from prison.   Over the loudspeakers a few thinks broke over the blocks between us;  “The White MAN”…”not the white woman but the White Man”..yes that was a quote.   As we got closer we could see the fence-lined field in front of the capital.   Three groups stood out.  The attendees mostly in red shirts all with the same message to “Free..” someone.    A group of what I would assume were gospel singers but they stood in a row off to the side.  The third was a row of people dressed in ethnic or ceremonial garb.     I assume the last two groups were part of the event but we missed their involvement.   As we rounded the back of the field, between it and the capital, a fourth group was evident.  A group of 5-6 large men dressed in all black, arms folded, stood facing the capital (not the event).   The stone look on their faces let you know they meant business.  This was a stark contrast to the 8/28 folks milling around the capital, shaking hands, commenting on each other t-shirts and talking with the capital guard.    I know they were protesting and obviously upset at some perceived injustice.  But the negativity of the message and the anger makes it hard for others to listen and join the movement.

3.  Late night with many friends…and a long walk.

After our time at Hamilton’s we decided to check on the monuments after sunset.   My cohort in this venture had not been to DC for pleasure.     On our way back to the Lincoln Memorial we decided to take a detour to see the Jefferson Memorial.   I have been to DC three times and never made it to that memorial.     A quick walk off of the mall and across the street to the parking lot.   Then along the lake to the side of Jefferson.  And then a walk around to the “front” past the construction.   And then the pathway around the other side to the back (or maybe really the front) of the monument; with our backs to the White House.     Metaphor was not lost… As you stand there facing Jefferson eye-to-eye, your back is to the White House.     After a brief rest and then up the stairs we were awestruck but the power of the memorial and the quotes on the walls.    Any belief that Jefferson was atheist or agnostic is completely erased in that room.   We spent out brief time there among the 40 or so others that had made the trip over (and maybe were dreading the trip back) at 10:30 that night.   I for one was glad I had walked it and won the debates against my tired feet at each turn…  I took a cab over to Lincoln from here,  where about a hundred people adorned the stairs.

8/28

4.  A small applause that may have made made her heart skip a beat.

We arrived at the Crystal City Metro station at 6:25 with a few dozen friends.   As the clock neared 7:00 the crowd was near 100.   A small “excuse me” reached the crowd.  As the crowd opened, an applause echoed throughout the small entrance chamber.   It was a younger black woman in her Metro uniform.  She had come to open the gates.  As she moved the crowd opened and closed around her, clapping as she walked.   She reached the gate, opened it and went through, closing it behind herself.   She returned in a few moments to open the gate, no pushing, no shoving.  In fact the first few in line helped here push the gates back, lift the retaining arms and place the gates in the “closets” to the side.  Once her job was done we all progressed to the train platforms.   All I could think about was wishing I knew what she was thinking in those moments… approaching the crowd, walking through, closing the gate again, having to come back up to open the gate, watching us all parade past.    In all we were respectful and I hope that it had an impact.

5.  2.5 hours before Glenn.

We arrived at the rally at about 7:30am.   We found our spot for the day on the left side of the reflecting pool a few dozen yards short of the second set of screens.  We stood on the rise just under the tree line.   As people arrived, we introduced ourselves and talked about our reasons for coming.  We covered PA, MD, AZ, GA, NY, OH.   A working mother from Toyota, a painter, a salesman, an IT guy and a few others that were never really covered.   As the crowd filled, in the small plots of grass between our stations continued to fill.    After 9:00, a mother, father and child arrived looking for a place to stand.    She asked a few pople if they minded if she took a small spot next to them.  She then pointed forward for her spouse and offered a small spot to her daughter.   The small crowd around us simply reshuffled their locations expanding from the spot where they stood to give them space to stand together.    In the end, they spread out their blanket and sat down to wait the final minutes before the rally.

Once ensconced in their new location, I noticed a Notre Dame backpack.  Those that know me, know I am not a huge fan of the “Fighting Irish.”   Usually a involuntary visceral reaction occurs.   I noticed a complete lack of response on this day.    In this crowd, all those rivalries, opinions and reactions were gone.  Steelers and Browns fans,  ACC and SEC no longer mattered (though those shirts and logos were still proudly displayed).

Minutes before the rally began, applause broke out from behind us.  Looking skyward a formation of geese was making it way up the reflecting pool, from the Washington Monument.  As if released by Glenn himself, they followed the pool and then veered right over the Vietnam Memorial.   It was an event opening fly-over, in an area of very restricted airspace.

6.  Not a single scrap.

After the rally was over we turned to slowly walk among the crowd.  We noticed that the field was clearing faster than the sidewalk so we slid under the ropes and on to the field.   As we approached the end of the field we encountered a Marshall with a garbage bag.  I dropped off the banana peal and empty water bottle I was holding and walked on.  It was then it struck me, we had not seen a single scrap of paper, a water bottle or even a gum wrapper anywhere on our walk through this field.  Good work, good people.

7.   A runner on a mission.

As we continued our walk through the mall, we approached the Washington Monument at about 1:30pm.  A slightly stressed looking woman was in jogging gear was swimming upstream.   I wish my camera was at the ready.   All I could think was, “I picked the wrong day to start jogging at the mall.”

8.  It begins now, a small bit of charity.

We exited the Metro at the airport with the echoes of the event still fresh in our ears.  We were talking to another man as we exited the Metro, swiped our ride cards and walked into the airport.   We asked if he was from here, he said no.    I saw a man coming towards us on the moving walkway.  I “stopped” him (in fact he had to walk backwards slowly to talk).   I asked if he was going on the Metro, he said yes so I handed him my ride card.  I told him that I did not know how much was left on it (a few rides to and from the airport on a $20 card) but he was welcome to it.  Rob handed him his as well and told him to enjoy his day.    He smiled, said a hearty thank you and stopped walking backwards.  The man with which we were walking said something along the lines of…Charity starts now, with us.

9.   Dr. Alveda King and Angelica Tucker’s father at Delta Lounge.

While waiting for our flight in the Delta lounge we were lucky to run into Dr. Alveda King and the father of Angela Tucker (a 22 year old singer at the rally).   I was tempted to try and get a picture with Dr King, but the vibe was not right.  She was not unapproachable, she was polite and gracious for the complements she received.  but it seemed she was exhausted and completely wiped.  After hearing a bit from behind the scenes, I believe this was true.  But she had apparently been engulfed in an overall constricting fear for the past three days.  Regardless, she did step over while we where talking to Angela’s father with a polite “excuse me for interrupting.”   She then talked with him, gave him a coupon/voucher or something and walked off saying she was headed to her flight.  Maybe she could have used the arm on her shoulder.  I wish her well.

While talking to Angela’s father we found him to be a gracious and humble recording engineer who looks far younger than his years would indicate.  He was obviously proud of his daughter and had great things to say about his time with Glenn Beck.  We discussed the point that Angela is unlikely to ever see a crowd of this size again.  He said that he had mentioned that to her as well.  Right on queue for a 22 year old, she said something along the lines of  “My facebook page is blowing up, never seen this many requests.”

10.  Enough is Enough… the New Hope and Change.

On our flight was one sole protester from the Sharpten rally.  She was wearing a read shirt that stated the simple message “Enough is Enough.”  I wished I had the gall to ask her how her really went, but I refrained.    I did notice however that the message “Enough is Enough” was generic enough to garner my support.    Similar to “Taxed Enough Already”,  enough taxes,  enough spending, enough debt, enough divisiveness, enough politicians.   It reminded me of days just past, when “Hope and Change” was the motto of choice.  A motto that again, could be filled with anything you wanted.  An empty vessel that means whatever you want it to mean.

This alone proved to me that the Democrats and the President were not being truthful.   They continue to try and shoot down the [...]]]> When it gets too hard to dig through all of the spin on both sides, I tend to take a step back, read the actual bill and act on common sense.

This alone proved to me that the Democrats and the President were not being truthful.   They continue to try and shoot down the argument that this is a public takeover of health care by stating that if you like your coverage you can keep it.   That may be technically true.  Only your existing coverage of choice will be allowed BY LAW.  You don’t dare change to another plan of your choice or enroll “any individual”.   Does this mean adding your spouse after marriage or a job loss or a change to add a new child?  You would have to believe that they count as “individuals”.  So this will force millions of people out of plans they like and into government mandated coverage.  Especially, younger more dynamic families and those switching jobs.  In today’s economy that is tens of millions of people.

SEC. 102. PROTECTING THE CHOICE TO KEEP CURRENT COVERAGE.

(a) GRANDFATHERED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE DEFINED.—Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, for purposes of establishing acceptable coverage under this division, the term ‘‘grandfathered health insurance coverage’’ means individual health insurance coverage that is offered and in force and effect before the first day of Y1 if the following conditions are met:

(1) LIMITATION ON NEW ENROLLMENT.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in this paragraph, the individual health insurance issuer offering such coverage does not enroll any individual in such coverage if the first effective date of coverage is on or after the first day of Y1.

Next major element of contention is the budget neutrality released by the CBO.  Very confusing how this ratings are controlled but one element jumped out at me.   The cost is 950Billion and this will “save money” because they are raising taxes by over 300billion and shaving Medicare payments to doctors by 500billion.     This leaves very little room for the actual payments of premiums.   The fact that premium payments will be far less than tax increases (on only the rich) and cutting payments to doctors for services rendered.   It sounds a lot like redistribution to me.

Add to this that the house already passed a bill to reverse the cuts in payments to doctors (a costs of $247billion).  It is stuck in the Senate which I guess gave them the ability to count that $247Billion as savings because they technically have not yet reversed it.  That bill alone will reverse the budget neutrality of the bill.

In summary; three facts that should show you there is no way this bill should pass.

1.  Keeping your own coverage is very limited and will force millions of people to buy government mandated plans.

2. It is supported primarily by redistribution of wealth and not a lower cost plan or a cost savings plan.

3. To be budget neutral it relies on future cuts in benefits, payments and tax increases.  All items that they are unlikely to pass in a hostile political environment.

Legislative inaction

The first was when the President scolded [...]]]> Like many I am impressed at the delivery of the speech, the words and inflection delivered with precision.  Also like most, I am waiting for action.  Actions speech louder then words.  Oddly, within the speech were a few actions that broke through the rhetoric and will likely live on beyond the speech.

Legislative inaction

The first was when the President scolded congress.  “Yesterday, the Senate blocked a bill that would have created this commission. So I will issue an executive order that will allow us to go forward, because I refuse to pass this problem on to another generation of Americans,” Obama said.

Made my eyes open wider.  He slapped down a congress run by Democrats.  This was surprising, but even greater impact was the direct statement and action of the Executive branch telling the Legislative branch that they are impotent and that he will move forward without them.   This direct assault should give us all pause.  Couldn’t he have said…“Yesterday, the Senate failed to pass a bill that would have created this commission.   I am disappointed in this action and will continue to work with Congress to address this issue and give it the power of law.  I refuse to pass this problem on to another generation of Americans,”

Judicial Action

The second moment was when the President decided to chide the Supreme Court for overturning campaign finance reform laws as Unconstitutional.

“Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests — including foreign companies — to spend without limit in our elections,” Obama said. “Well, I don’t think American elections should be bankrolled by America’s most powerful interests, and worse, by foreign entities. They should be decided by the American people, and that’s why I’m urging Democrats and Republicans to pass a bill that helps to right this wrong.”

The rest of the press will jump all over Judge Alido for shaking his head and mouthing “That is not true.”   It will likely get the same press as “You Lie.”  But the fact that the President felt that he would use this stage to tell the American people that the Supreme Court is wrong and state that we should move forward in opposition to their decision.

The lack of respect is not in Alido’s head shake but Mr. Obama’s direct assault on the Judiciary sitting in the front row.  Alido’s actions were instinctive and responsive.  The President’s were premeditated and directed.

Again, if he felt is necessary to raise this issue to the level of the State of the Union.  A more respectful response would have been to “find a way to work within this decision to constrain undue influence on campaigns without impacting the first amendment rights of citizens”.  What is obviously missing in the President’s comments is any linkage to the unions and PACs which are some of “America’s most powerful interests.”   Corporations are entities that deserve the same rights granted to these organizations and citizens.  What is obvious in these comments is disdain for the third and equal branch of government, created specifically to correct imbalances created by act of law.

The president’s supporters will ignore and rally behind these actions.  All of us should get control of our emotions and think about where these actions take us.  Separation of powers is a fundamental tenant of our Constitution.  Ignoring it for political activism harms us all.

But there was an [...]]]> I did not expect to get too much out of Glenn Beck’s documentary.   A rehash of Hitler’s rise to power and communist murders.   I know they are bad and progressives are leaving those details out of history.  I appreciate his attempts to right history and fight back.  That alone warranted viewing.

But there was an AH HA moment that came from something very different.   Within the discussion of Hitler and Marx there was a mention of the fact the Marx wrote that Socialism is a step along the evolutionary path to Communism (not new) and that both were a societal step above Capitalism.   That I did not know.   Not that it was true but that Marx and his ilk believed it to be so.   Capitalism was a step beyond other forms of government but only a lesser step onward towards the ultimate goal of Communism.

What is so groundbreaking here?   You would expect Marx to think his form of government is superior.  I guess I always thought that capitalism and communism where opposites on a completely different plain of existence.  One for freedom and individuals and one for government control and serfdom.   I would have never put them on a continuum.

It goes beyond the simple belief by Marx and to the philosophy on which it lies and explains so very much.   Liberals that dominate academia consider themselves the thinkers.  They look upon the rest of society as inferior and flawed.   Those in the political arena would study Marx and find his desire to move “beyond” capitalism intriguing.   Glossing over the desire to murder all inferior minded within the citizenry, they would gravitate to the evolutionary aspect of the philosophy.     It explains the lefts distaste for corporations and profits, the sneers they give to those in fly over country, and this disrespect for the limits placed on them by the constitution (written by imbeciles that never understood Marxist philosophy (Karl Marx 1818-1883)).

That little segment and the connections it fired, so rapidly explained so much of the political landscape, I believe I let out a breath, followed a few moments later by a sigh.

As you know [or maybe not] I have just come back from England and the Labor Government is just as shameful as our Democratic one.   The [...]]]> This is an email from last year that was held privately for a while.  I have received enough follow-up that I believed it needed to be posted.

As you know [or maybe not] I have just come back from England and the Labor Government is just as shameful as our Democratic one.   The MP’s are currently enjoying a scandal of padding expenses, including prime minister Brown, to levels you would not believe and they are bending over backwards to give illegal aliens benefits, money and civil rights, etc., without their earning it, just as here and their National Health program and economy is already a disaster.

These problems are causing the rise in popularity of the British National Party [BNP] likened to Hitler’s Nazi’s of the past who have already gained two seats representing Britain in the European Parliament and it looks like they are gaining momentum to such an extent that they will be seating MP’s directly into the British Parliament; after the horrors of World War II, who would have imagined such a thing.  They [the BNP] want to control [stop and reverse] immigration, kick out illegal aliens and establish very racially unacceptable laws, etc., and not necessarily in a civil manner; you should see the hooligans that walk around protecting their leader!     They are prepared to do what Hitler and his brown shirts did!  The people voting for the BNP generally, I believe, don’t really believe in the policies of the BNP, but they are simply fed up, as we are here, with what is happening and what the stupid government is letting happen.   Can this happen here?

What is happening here, it seems,  is the destruction of our country from within.    Look at what Obama has done so far, look at the people we have in high places helping him, including his gang of friends, people who are not even qualified or were elected, etc.   Do these people understand what is happening, are they doing it deliberately?   Or is it simply,” pull up the ladder Jack I’m alright?”

However, if you think it can’t get any worse, take a look at the attached; something that will be showing in your neighborhood very soon!   From my perspective, this is nothing less than treason and they should be arrested and deported or worse.

Heaven help us; please!

…Think this can’t happen here?  Remember that Europe is a decade “ahead” of us on these social issues (i.e Healthcare) and we are running full speed in that direction.   We need to learn from their mistakes.  Use this Google search to keep up with the articles and stay informed .

Both have served to show, that when it comes down to it;  Democrats, Republicans and Independents, there is a lot we share as Americans.   The media, in pursuit of the every important rating point (dollars but the Liberals don’t like to admit [...]]]> An odd combination but they have something remarkable in common… The American People.

Both have served to show, that when it comes down to it;  Democrats, Republicans and Independents, there is a lot we share as Americans.   The media, in pursuit of the every important rating point (dollars but the Liberals don’t like to admit it), will continue to accentuate the differences and polarize the American people.   Politicians, in pursuit of reelection (let’s not kid ourselves that is money and power as well) try to convince us that crossing party lines and.or that “other guy” will destroy the country.   Haiti and Scott Brown tell us otherwise.   They tell us that we as Americans have far more in common.

A disaster in a foreign country, during a global recession, cannot stop the American people from donating millions of dollars or their ever-shrinking savings.   Thousands give even more through their time and sweat.   No political lines, no borders, just people helping people in need.   It is what makes America (and the free world) special.  It is what many fear is hampered by government control, mandates and heavy tax burdens.    Haiti shows us that even with all that is against us; keeping us from buying a new car or a new TV; cannot kill our spirit and love of our fellow man.   It took a disaster in a foreign country to break through the media and political spin and remind us of it.

That spirit lives on in all us, even in Massachusetts.    Even there where a Republican public official is a rare as a Yankees fan, people came together.  They came together to shatter the political spin and media love affair with all things Obama.   They came together to tell Washington and the rest of the country that we are all Americans, we are still in charge and we are still  free.

Those whose livelihood depends on their power in Washington will continue to fight.    But I am heartened today.  Today is a new day.   We have taken two great steps in the direction of our founding and begun anew to walk the path destined to us.   2010 has indeed brought us a new beginning and Washington can definitely hear us now.

“You think you’ve heard these same excuses before, you’re right. When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said, slow down, it’s [...]]]> Much has been made about Harry Reid’s attempt to link opposition to heath care to opposition to slavery, woman’s rights and civil rights.

“You think you’ve heard these same excuses before, you’re right. When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said, slow down, it’s too early. Let’s wait. Things aren’t bad enough. When women spoke up for the right to speak up, they wanted to vote, some insisted slow down, there will be a better day to do that. The day isn’t quite right. When this body was on the verge of guaranteeing equal civil rights to everyone, regardless of the color of their skin, some senators resorted to the same filibuster threats that we hear today.”

Here are a few links to the obvious.

The Politico: GOP erupts over Reid slavery, segregation remarks
Fox News: Reid Compares Opponents of Health Care Reform to Supporters of Slavery

The obvious angles have already been taken. The left agrees with him and the right is correctly notifying him that those that opposed these actions where actually Democrats. Most will write this off as finger pointing and posturing, which of course it is. There are opposition parties and they often oppose actions by the other party. Little of this opposition rises to the level of this debate and those mentioned by Harry Reid.   Below the obvious politics lies a more important point.

All of these arguments, including Health Care, are about freedom. Freedom to live out your life as God intended and as guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. In all cases, the opposition sided with freedom and the American people and the Democrats sided with government power and the infringement of freedom.  It is this point that needs to be made and why all Americans should watch this debate with great trepidation.   Unfortunately, it is this point that the politicians and the media fail to understand.  American freedom suffers another blow because of it.