Forgetting Our Manners

AN OVERLY SELF ASSURED young lady representing the taxed enough already wing of american republican ultra conservatism proudly proclaimed on national public radio (socialized radio) the overweening importance of public opinion polls. Nothing could be of greater importance, said she, with the vocal inflection of an upper middle class SUV & McMansion owner who is quite full of herself. America does not want Obamacare, because public opinion polls consistently indicate that a majority of americans are against it, and that settles it. Conflicting poll results? Margins of error? Closely divided population on a major issue resulting in vague and close poll numbers? No matter, the big picture is clear. The electoral and legislative processes be damned! Suddenly, what really matters are the latest survey results! Opinion polls are paramount! Opinion polls are sufficient reason to refuse to cooperate in a necessary formality to fund the U.S. government, as if there is any remotely, conceivbably logical connection between routine government fuding and a health care system that was put in place three years ago. Send the government workers home unpaid, the opinion polls say that its justified! Is it even remotely possible that the stop Obamacare at all costs crowd are acing more on internal dogma than public opinion, perceived or real? Refusing to fund the government unless we get our way, and our way is to undo what was done, according to due process, years ago, because we don't like it now. Why not reverse the presidential election of 2000? Reverse welfare reform, and restore benefits without limits! Are we forgetting that even when many other people agree with us, we are not mandated by anyone to proceed with an unrelenting crusade to implement our personal beliefs, all else be damned, at all costs? It would seem that we are. Participants in coups and revolutions always seem to forget this; that God, and national destiny, has not necessarily spoken any more clearly to them than to those whom they oppose. Opinion polls would doubtless indicate that most americans think they pay too much in taxes. Such poll results might not change much even if taxes were considerably lower than they now are. Thanks to due process, we often end up with laws which many people eventually dislike, yet serve a necessary purpose, like, providing health insurance for everyone, even the poor.