Healthy Living: Political Nuclear Option Promising The Winter of Our Discontent.

Readers of Healthy Living Tips and Secrets know that it's no secret that I delve into politics from time to time.  I don't know if the current political climate affects your health, but it sure does mine.  Now, just when you think it's safe to go about living your life, the Democratic party comes along and drops the political nuclear bomb that no party has ever risked enacting before....neither Republican nor Democratic.

What the Democrats have done is to change the Senate rules for the confirmation of most executive branch and judicial appointments (however, it does not pertain to Supreme Court judge nominees).  With a vote of 52 to 48 they revised the Senate rules on appointments changing from 60 votes needed to a simple majority of 51.  It is interesting to note that three senators; Levin of Michigan, Pryor of Arkansas, and Manchin of West Virginia voted with all Republicans against the new rule.  Nonetheless, the rule has been changed.  Why now?

There may be multiple explanations for this risky, and some say reckless, move by the Dems.  Here are some that seem clear to me:

• It was enacted in part to move the conversation away from the very damning and embarrassing roll-out of Obamacare.  However, this seems unlikely to have little long-lasting effect as more and more Americans are personally impacted by Obamacare every day.
• Dems want to ram through as many judicial appointments as possible before the 2014 mid-term elections as the negative effects of Obamacare appear to be shifting toward a possible Republican take-over of the Senate
• Dems want to load critical courts with as many of their nominees as possible in order to forward their agenda judicially rather than through the more difficult legislative route.  

What the Democrats seem to be missing is the boomerang effect of this change.  What goes around will surely come around.  In their desperation to force through their social agenda, they are losing sight of the devestating cumulative effect the A.C.A. is having on the majority of working Americans from all backgrounds and all parties.  If they seek to isolate themselves from what is affecting the lives of normal citizens, their pocketbooks, their families' needs, and the effect that will have on how they vote, they are doing a good job.  They can blame the disenfranchisement of voters with their agenda all they want, but they will pay the price in the end.  And that price may come due soon. 

I will get back to healthy living and healthy eating tips and secrets in my next blog.  Meanwhile, if you have any thoughts you would like to share on this topic, please drop a comment.