Despite this really visible opposition to change, or perhaps because of it, I am starting to feel the slightest bit…hmm, what’s the word…un-pessimistic.[...]

The economy is still in trouble and there will be more discussion about it in the coming weeks and months. We should not let morality obscure that discussion. Certainly we should strive for economic reforms that reward hard work and innovation rather than Wall St. coin clipping. We should also do what we can to make sure everyone has a fair chance at economic prosperity. But we shouldn’t let ourselves be led into the trap of believing that prudent spending is a sin or that our economy should go to hell.[...]

Representative Alan Grayson caused a stir in the House yesterday when he presented “the Republican healthcare bill.” It was quite simple: 1. Don’t get sick. 2. If you do get sick, die quickly.[...]

Yesterday’s healthcare debate in the Senate Finance Committee was a dismal spectacle for so many reasons. Two public options were voted down. Sen. Baucus offered no better reason for voting against Sen. Schumer’s public option than his belief that other senators were not going to vote for it when the bill left committee. It was something less than heroic. But the last straw was when Sen. Grassley unabashedly adduced research that wouldn’t pass muster in an A.P. Government class.

Whereas the rhetoric of the House is often transparently insane, the thrust and parry of the senate is endlessly amusing.

There is a new commercial out that is designed to make me angry about proposals at the state and national levels to help pay for healthcare by taxing soda and sweetened “juice” drinks. When these commercials first appeared, they so annoyed me that I immediately wrote to my congressman to say I was adamantly in favor of such a tax.