Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

Strangely, I think that's true. Even stranger, it's also true of Congress.

From all the polls I've read, when the proposed bill is broken down into individual elements both the public and members of Congress are in favor of almost the entire bill. I've heard partisans from both sides of the aisle say, "we're in agreement on 80-85% of the bill". When you ask either members of Congress or the public if healthcare reform is needed, the answer is almost 100% yes.

So why with that kind of agreement can't our Congress reach some compromise and pass the 80-85% of the bill that they all agree on...creating reforms that almost everyone agrees are critically necessary?

Why? Because politics is a more important blood sport in Washington than doing anything to benefit the country. It's all about getting and retaining power, certainly not governing the country for the better. How many times have you heard in recent days that one group of Congressmen or Senators or another won't vote for the bill because it may affect their chances of re-election in the fall?

That answers the question, dosen't it? What's more important to those that we sent to Washington is that they get to stay there...not passing legislation that a high majority of folks know is necessary, regardless of the negative effect that voting no and doing nothing will have on the electorate.