Moving the Ball

Political Momentum

With his most recent article, George Will suggests that Conservatives were short-sighted or reacting in fear in their work during 2013 to delay or block implementation of Obamacare. Will, an opponent of active opposition strategies, has consistently suggested that Republicans need only wait for Obamacare to implode upon itself and guide them back to more conservative policies & candidates.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/george-f-will-2013s-lesson-for-conservatives/2013/12/27/b49f1c40-6f1e-11e3-a523-fe73f0ff6b8d_story.html

He highlights both actual history as well as counter-factual consideration to justify his recommendations. Historically, Democrats & Progressives suffered major electoral losses after passage of the New Deal and Great Society. Likewise, the Affordable Care Act would have came nowhere close to passage (or implementation) had Obama and Democrats honestly admitted the costs and consequences.

While correct in his suppositions, the underlying weakness is that this represents a defensive strategy focused on preventing advance of progressive policies. As a movement, Progressives are satisfied to lose an election or two if it is because they have effectively advanced their political aims. So long as the programs continue (as have Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc), they have continued their long-term policy goals.

While Obamacare has been a train-wreck (more so than even many Republicans would have predicted), if Republicans are unable to repeal and replace it with more market-based reforms, the long-term consequences to America’s healthcare system will be permanent & profound. It is not enough to prove the failures of Progressive philosophy; ground must be gained.