Fw: A view from London

British media folks view what is happening in the USA. Just read today's (March 22) London Daily Telegraph regarding the passage of Obama/Pelosi/Reid government control of our healthcare system. Read what some of the British think about what is happening not just to HC, but to our country and our future.
This is what our Press should be saying; what their Editorial & OpEd pages should be saying, but won't. Freedom of the Press is an important safeguard for our Democratic Republic. Too bad the vast majority of the American Press have abandoned their responsibility. Emphasis added RED, Comment added in ( ).
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Daily Telegraph (London Edition) March 22, 2010
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Congress health care vote:
a dark day for freedom in America
By Nile Gardiner
The passage last night of Barack Obama’s health care reform bill through the House of Representatives is yet another blow to freedom in America inflicted by the Obama administration. The legislation, which comes at a staggering cost of $940 billion (really $2.4 trillion for every 10 yrs of the full program's impact), will hugely add to the already towering national debt, now at over $12 trillion. It is yet another millstone round the necks of the American people, already faced with the highest levels of unemployment in a generation.
It is also a great leap forward by the United States towards a European-style vision of universal health care, which will only lead to soaring costs, higher taxes, and a surge in red tape for small businesses. This reckless legislation dramatically expands the power of the state over the lives of individuals, and could not be further from the vision of America’s founding fathers. It has also been rushed through Congress without proper scrutiny, in the face of overwhelming public opposition, and with not an ounce of bipartisan support.
Above all the health care bill is a thinly disguised vanity project for a president who is committed to transforming the United States from the world’s most successful large-scale free enterprise economy, to a highly interventionist society with a massive role for centralized government. The United States has thrived as a nation for over 230 years precisely because of its love for freedom and its belief in free markets.
What we have just witnessed is a massive slap in the face for limited government and the principle of individual responsibility. Its net result will be the erosion of freedom in America, and a further undermining of the country’s economic competitiveness. This may be a political victory for the president and his supporters in Congress, but it is in reality a defeat for America as a great power, and another Obama-led step towards US decline.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow. A conservative newspaper in Britain prints an editorial written by a conservative hack who works for the super-conservative Heritage Foundation. I guess that settles it: The British people are in agreement that this is a bad thing.

Anonymous said...

I thought we weren't supposed to care what other countries think about what we do?

Anonymous said...

Just curious...

Did anybody else notice that this puports to be published in a British paper (The Daily Telegraph), yet it talks about money amounts in billions of "dollars"? Wouldn't a paper published in a foreign country either cite the amount in the "native" currency (i.e., British pounds or Euros), or at least provide a translation of the dollar amounts in parenthesis? Also, in my expereince, foreign publications, unlike American ones, don't assume that their readers understand the structure of the US government, or what "bipartisan" means in this country, and usually add clarifying information for their readers. (The same way that American news articles always translate foreign currency amounts, provide breif contextual background on the foreign political structures and parties they're talking about. etc.)

Sometimes, it's the details that give your agenda away, you know....

Unknown said...

It's actually funny to read the titles of his other articles; I think even Glen Beck would tell him he's being too hard on BHO :-)

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/author/nilegardiner/

Marc with a C said...

Never knew the Brits were so heavily invested in America's freedom. Battle of Saratoga and all that, what, what?

katz said...

It's really remarkable how effective varying font size and color is at making any piece of writing look like the ravings of a lunatic.

CharlieE said...

The British spell "program" as "programme."

This one doesn't pass the smell test.

ferschitz said...

The spelling is incorrect for a British publication; they don't use British monetary denominations; and, as someone said, we're not supposed to give a crap about the dastardly Brits and Europeans (except when Michelle Obama has the bald-faced temerity to touch the Queen... jealous, much???) think about us.

Yeah: pretty much a trifecta of stupidity and typical rightwing unbelievability. Agree with Charlie over there... doesn't pass the smell test.

Oh let's all cry in our beer because the Brits said our health care system is terible. THAT just proves it!! doi

me said...

This is from a British paper. Nice try on the detective work all you little Sherlocks.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100030793/a-dark-day-for-freedom-in-america/

Anonymous said...

@ Me

So what? It was printed in a far right brit paper, written by a far, far right hack who works at the far far right Hertiage foundation. The idea that this somehow represents British public opinion or that is should be seen as some cool, detached analysis of HCR reform is insane.

That Other Mike said...

It's not for nothing that it gets nicknamed the Torygraph.

me said...

@Anon

So, the commenters were saying it wasn't from a british paper. What exactly don't you understand?

Anonymous said...

@ Me

I understand that. My point is that British, American or Martian, this is a hack job by a hack writer. The idea that this represents British public opinion or should be taken seriously at all it a joke.

Which is why its so funny. Many conservatives are notorious for not giving a toss what foreigners think. Except in isolated cases like this, when suddenly foreign wisdom (which doesn't really represent foreign opinion) is suddenly what we should listen to.

katz said...

Good thing we have me to show us the error of our ways.

Nobody said outright "This isn't from a British paper." Anon 3 said "Just curious" and pointed out several things that didn't make sense. CharlieE and ferschitz tentatively spoke out against its authenticity. But Anon 1 and Nick correctly identified the source before me bestowed his/her wisdom on us. And there's nothing wrong (or even stupid) about doubting authenticity until proven; it's far better than being taken in by an obvious scam.

 
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