GOP Should Repeal Healthcare Law Regardless of Polls

For the past 18 months, Republicans have felt the wind at their back when it comes to healthcare and public opinion.

But, as the New Republic’s Jonathan Chait recently noted, the picture is becoming a bit cloudier. New polling suggests that just 1 in 4 Americans want to see the new law repealed in whole.

Even among Republicans, support has dropped from 61 percent after the midterm elections to just 49 percent now.

[Check out a roundup of political cartoons on healthcare.]

How should this affect the upcoming House vote on repealing Obamacare?

Not at all, I hope.

Just as I argued in March 2010, when the tables were turned, polling data shouldn’t be a decisive factor in the deliberations of either party.

Democrats thought the bill was the right thing for the country, a moral improvement over an ugly status quo. Consequently, many of them lost their jobs. That’s exactly as it should be.

And now, even with a minority of the country favoring full repeal, House Republicans should move ahead with their plans, and for much the same reason: They believe it’s the right thing to do.

[See a roundup of this month's best political cartoons.]

Complicating this picture even further is the reality of gerrymandered congressional districts, whose ideological homogeneity protected the most liberal Democrats in Congress last November and, today, will obscure for Republicans the public’s diminishing appetite for repeal.

But that’s an argument for another day.

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Should GOP Top Priority Be Healthcare Repeal?

The House plans to start debate this afternoon on whether to repeal last year's healthcare reforms, dubbed Obamacare by critics. Many have called the GOP’s efforts symbolic at best since it’s unlikely the Democrat-heavy Senate would pass such a bill, and even more unlikely President Obama would sign it. A new AP-GfK poll suggests public support for repeal is declining. Of those surveyed, 26 percent said they wanted to repeal the healthcare bill completely, compared to 32 percent last October.

U.S. News blogger Scott Galupo says that polling shouldn’t deter Republicans. He writes, “Democrats thought the bill was the right thing for the country… And now, even with a minority of the country favoring full repeal, House Republicans should move ahead with their plans, and for much the same reason: They believe it’s the right thing to do.”

But is pursuing repeal the best top priority for Republicans? U.S. News blogger Peter Roff says the GOP shouldn’t forget about another topic on the forefront of Americans’ minds—immigration. “To some, especially activists on the right, the call for comprehensive immigration reform is perceived as an argument for amnesty,” Roff writes. “But ‘What part of illegal don’t you understand’ is not a rational basis for formulating public policy.” Particularly looking ahead to 2012, Roff suggests, the GOP can’t afford to ignore the Hispanic vote. “The political consequences of failing to address the immigration issue could, for the GOP, be devastating,” he writes.

What do you think? Should the GOP’s top priority be healthcare repeal, immigration reform, or something else? Take the poll and post your thoughts below.

Previously: Should more congressmen carry guns to protect themselves?

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Should you go Greek?

Joining a fraternity or sorority can be a very pleasant experience; however it is not for everyone. If you are considering going Greek continue reading below to see if it seems like something that might be right for you.

If you are seeking to establish long-lasting friendships then going Greek might be a good idea. This is because throughout the years you will create an almost familial bond. This is why the terms brotherhood and sisterhood are so commonly used in the Greek system. You will also experience more opportunities because of that bond. For example, past members may be able to find you employment after graduation.

And while some of the stereotypes are actually true about Greek life—there is a quite amount of partying and drinking that occurs, particularly in fraternities, and some mild form of hazing might occur upon pledging – Greek organizations also contribute to society in many other ways. For example, every fraternity and sorority is required to participate in numerous community service projects and activities. They also hold fundraisers for local and national causes and even host a variety of academic lecturers and speakers on campus.

But let it be known that going Greek is very expensive and time consuming. Every Greek organization requires its members to pay dues in order to pay for sponsored events, parties, and boarding and housing. Depending on how large and popular the organization is, dues can cost you thousands of dollars. That’s not including the amount individuals spend buying dresses and suits for additional organization activities such as formals. So if you don’t think that joining a frat or sorority seems like something that is in your budget, you should try joining another organization that will cost less and be equally fulfilling.

Also, during your rushing and pledging period (which usually lasts anywhere from a few weeks to a few months) you will have to spend the majority of your time studying the organization’s history and mantras. You will be ‘quizzed’ typically during odd hours of the night.In addition you will also serve as your superiors’ flunky for a few weeks as well. This means you will always be on-call to run errands and complete tasks at your superior’s request. These late night quizzes and your new career as errand boy or girl can heavily take a toll on your study time and academics. This is why usually freshmen are not encouraged to join a frat or sorority since they are just getting adjusted to school.

Did you enjoy this article?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 15th, 2010 at 11:34 am and is filed under Campus Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

View the original article here

Should you go Greek?

Joining a fraternity or sorority can be a very pleasant experience; however it is not for everyone. If you are considering going Greek continue reading below to see if it seems like something that might be right for you.

If you are seeking to establish long-lasting friendships then going Greek might be a good idea. This is because throughout the years you will create an almost familial bond. This is why the terms brotherhood and sisterhood are so commonly used in the Greek system. You will also experience more opportunities because of that bond. For example, past members may be able to find you employment after graduation.

And while some of the stereotypes are actually true about Greek life—there is a quite amount of partying and drinking that occurs, particularly in fraternities, and some mild form of hazing might occur upon pledging – Greek organizations also contribute to society in many other ways. For example, every fraternity and sorority is required to participate in numerous community service projects and activities. They also hold fundraisers for local and national causes and even host a variety of academic lecturers and speakers on campus.

But let it be known that going Greek is very expensive and time consuming. Every Greek organization requires its members to pay dues in order to pay for sponsored events, parties, and boarding and housing. Depending on how large and popular the organization is, dues can cost you thousands of dollars. That’s not including the amount individuals spend buying dresses and suits for additional organization activities such as formals. So if you don’t think that joining a frat or sorority seems like something that is in your budget, you should try joining another organization that will cost less and be equally fulfilling.

Also, during your rushing and pledging period (which usually lasts anywhere from a few weeks to a few months) you will have to spend the majority of your time studying the organization’s history and mantras. You will be ‘quizzed’ typically during odd hours of the night.In addition you will also serve as your superiors’ flunky for a few weeks as well. This means you will always be on-call to run errands and complete tasks at your superior’s request. These late night quizzes and your new career as errand boy or girl can heavily take a toll on your study time and academics. This is why usually freshmen are not encouraged to join a frat or sorority since they are just getting adjusted to school.

Did you enjoy this article?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 15th, 2010 at 11:34 am and is filed under Campus Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

View the original article here