“People are going to die………”

I  feel the need to make public those times that I agree with the president on a major issue. The above statement (without the ellipsis) was in his health care speech last night and no I did not watch it. And not because it was Obama. I heard this particular quote and hae seen it referenced a few times. He is correct. people are going to die. Whether or not the non passage of health care reform contributes to that is open to question. I seriously doubt it could be proved or disproved should one  attempt to do so.

After all, using CDC numbers from 2006, there were 2,26,264 deaths in our country. The only reason that I could think he would use a phrase like that is for shock value, to either galvanize his  supporters or shock those undecided into becoming supporters. It is a memorable line, but methinks it would have been better left unsaid.

It reminded me of a guy I used to work with, now retired. When stormy weather was predicted he would say with a straight face  that there was going to be  thunder and lightning and we are all going to die. To which another coworker would invariably reply, yes we all are , eventually. The implication that my first friend was seeking to make, tongue-in-cheek , was that it would be due to the upcoming stormy weather. That is the analogy that came to mind when I heard this line from the speech.

I have kinda reached the point where I hope the legislation gets passed , generally however the party in power wants  it  to be. Then if it succeeds, bully for them. If not, oh well. I guess they could  always deny and  obfuscate.