Forget socialism, we've got oligarchy

The kindest definition of "oligarchy" is "government by the few." It accurately describes the condition of the United States at this point in time. We do not have a representative government, as evidenced by the current actions in Congress.

The best current example is the plan of Sen. Reid to circumvent the Republican Party by procedural action, stifle discussion/disagreement and hustle the seriously flawed health care bill into law. You don't run a PTO that way without encountering serious criticism and pushback.

Few, if any, of your readers would be likely to affirmatively respond to someone saying, "You don't need to read this contract, and we're in too big a hurry to discuss it; just sign here; trust us."

When the proponents of the health care bill tell me not to worry, that there won't be rationing and the next news break is the recommendation to lop 10 years off preventive health care, i.e., mammograms, I see just cause for concern.

When Dr. Ezekiel Emmanuel, apparently a medical spokesman for the administration, says in a Wall Street Journal article that people my age (over 65) have had our share of life and should only be afforded "attenuated" medical care, I see just cause for concern.

When I know people in countries where medical care has gone the direction that congressional leadership and the administration want it to go wait months and even years for nonemergency medical procedures, I see just cause for concern.

Finally, if the health care bill was the boon for America we are being asked to believe, why was it necessary for the administration to buy congressional votes with taxpayer dollars to keep it alive and move it forward?

Perhaps congressional leadership is hoping the memories of the electorate will fade before midterm elections - I assure you, mine will not. If yours does, shame on you.

William Slater

Mundelein