In honor of St. Patrick’s Day: Blarney from The Hammer O’ the Kraut

Via Yglesias, here’s Charles Krauthammer on why Americans don’t want no gubmint takeover of health care:

It’s the essence of America. And it’s what distinguishes Americans who are essentially refugees of the old society in Europe. That’s why it’s always been harder to make Americans break to the yoke of government, as happened in Europe.

Look, once you get accustomed to the kind of entitlements you have in Sweden, England, France, elsewhere, it doesn’t get undone. And America is different. It’s resisting the imposition of new yokes. And that’s what’s happening today.

Yglesias notes: “My ancestors fled Europe more because of the pogroms than because of the Czar’s efforts to expand the welfare state.” Excellent point, Matt. And mine most definitely did not leave Ireland because the NHS waiting list for knee replacement surgery was too long.

But there’s a kernel of truth to what Krauthammer says: “It doesn’t get undone.” And that’s why the puppeteers who are making the teabaggers dance are becoming increasingly desperate to stop health care reform.

Posted by Betty Cracker on 03/17/10 at 01:52 PM • Permalink

Categories: Politics • Health Care • Nutters • Teabaggery • Our Stupid Media •

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Look, once you get accustomed to the kind of entitlements you have in Sweden, England, France, elsewhere, it doesn’t get undone. And America is different. It’s resisting the imposition of new yokes.

Yes, because it’s a good thing to die years before your time or live with disability unnecessarily because the insurance companies wouldn’t cover you even if you could afford it.

Krautblather no doubt has first class health insurance and figures that’s all that matters to him anyway.

Comment by marindenver on 03/17/10 at 02:05 PM

Well that certainly explains the massive recent migration of Swedes.

Comment by Tom65 on 03/17/10 at 02:19 PM

Beck was nearly psychotic today, explaining how he had to perform his stage show last night because a “seer” told him someone in the audience would try to assassinate him.

Rush says we have only three days left before “the end of America.”

Sean Hannity is calling for ALL Americans—white or European, rich or wealthy, conservative or Republican, Christian or Methodist—to stand up and stop this Constitutional Abomination from dick-slapping the Dream of the Founders.

Damn straight these assholes are desperate. Granted, good, affordable health insurance matters to Krauthammer more than most people, but—in the near term—so does echoing the crazy talk of Ailes-protege Beck.