Dakota Beacon

Focus hard enough and the assertion of government impropriety runs clear and deep. In P.J. O’Rourke’s book “A Parliament of Whores” he humorously lambastes government in general, and politicians in particular, for their propensity to set aside principle for political gain.

It’s an annual tradition that the top news stories are reviewed at the end of a year. Regrettably, the biggest story of 2009 went unreported, that is, the story of political prostitution.

By Christmas the greatest deliberative body in the world degenerated into a house of prostitution, to wit, the buyoff of Senators to insure a successful vote on the legislative health care monstrosity.

Before becoming incensed, check the definition of prostitution. The term “prostitute” broadly suggests more than a narrow sexual perspective. Prostitute (as a verb) -- To misuse something for gain. To use a skill or ability in a way that is considered unworthy, usually for financial gain. Any way you cut it, the etymology of the word connotes exactly what it says -- trading something for favors.

Here are blatant examples of senatorial health care buyoffs.

Senator Mary Landrieu, Louisiana Democrat, sold her vote for $300 million otherwise known as the “Second Louisiana Purchase.” Landrieu will get additional federal aid for Louisiana’s Medicaid recipients.

Nebraska Democrat Senator Ben Nelson sold his vote in the “Cornhusker Kickback.” He was the last holdout that kept Senate Democrats from reaching the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. His price? A permanent exemption of Nebraska’s share of payment for Medicaid expansion under the new health care legislation.

There is also the “Florida Flim-Flam” in which Florida Democrat Senator Bill Nelson also sold his health care vote. This special deal grandfathers Florida’s Medicare Advantage enrollees worth approximately $5 billion. Other states face Medicare Advantage cuts.

Vermont Democrat Senator Bernie Sanders sold his vote for $10 billion in new funding for community health centers. Three days prior to the vote he wasn’t sure he could support the Senate health care legislation.

Michigan Democrat Senator Carl Levin carved out exemptions in the health care legislation granting large excise tax exemptions to non-profit insurers.

Democrat Senators from North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Utah and Wyoming sold their votes, also. Their states will receive increases in Medicare payments to hospitals and doctors where at least half of the counties are referred to as “frontier counties,” that is, counties with small populations.

Meanwhile, Nevada Democrat Senator Harry Reid spoke unapologetically about the buyoffs. He argued that, by definition, legislating means deal-making. “You’ll find a number of states that are treated differently than other states. That’s what legislating is all about. It’s compromise,” he said. He avoided saying that other states pick up the tab for deals cut.

A not-so-coincidental factor comes into play. Billions of dollars remain unspent from the stimulus and TARP funds. The unspent billions serve as a giant presidential “slush fund” with which to purchase congressional votes in support of health care and other major legislation. If this is true, then, by definition, the U.S. Congress serves as one huge house of prostitution.

O’Rourke’s book illustrates over and over the evolution of bloated, useless and wasteful government programs. In the end, however, it’s the American people who look bad. He clearly shows the reason for this. Government programs have their constituencies which, more often than not, comprise the work-a-day middle class. We in the middle class have an appetite for gargantuan government programs making us easy prey for politicians.

It’s always easier to talk about someone else than it is to criticize ourselves. The issue O’Rourke raises is whether democracy is ultimately doomed by a citizenry avoiding responsibility for their own lives. In his book “Democracy in America,“ Alexis de Tocqueville approached the same issue adroitly pointing out that, once people in a democracy realize they can simply blame others for problems of their own making, the democracy is morally doomed.

Ben Franklin’s observation was even more cutting. “When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.”

In the end, it seems, we are the whores trading our freedom for financial gain.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).