Same Old Song

David Waldman has a very useful blast from the GOP's lunatic past for you:

I have with me a hard copy of a collection of Republican quotes predicting doom and disaster in the wake of the 1993 Clinton economic stimulus plan, and much of the rhetoric is eerily similar to today's. Of course, that should come as no surprise, since the point of the compilation was in fact to point out that the 1993 rhetoric -- particularly on health care, which was still a live proposition at that time -- was itself eerily similar to Republican doom and disaster rhetoric during the debate on the original Social Security and Medicare legislation.

I figure this is what I've been saving this crazy thing for, after all these years. So I'm just going to type them all up here for your enjoyment. And I sincerely hope that they retain their entertainment value forever, and in particular that we all get to laugh -- not nervous tittering, but really have a carefree laugh -- at this exercise very, very soon.

Please take the time to read them all, if not all at once.  And bookmark that page.  You will want to have quick access to it during the imminent battle the insurance industry will wage openly to save itself from regulation and to preserve/extend the pipeline that channels our money into their bank accounts.

My favorite quote is in opposition to Medicare:

Raymond E. King, Jr., National Association of Life Underwriters, 5/65:

[The Medicare bill would] set up a health care program which served little or no necessary social purpose and which would be a direct, unwarranted and completely unfair intrusion in private enterprise.

Get ready to beat back nonsense like that and much worse in the months ahead.

Comments

[mick]

It's astounding. Practically the same words. And always, of course, wrong. I can sum up every one of their arguments in a single 4-wd sentence.

Shorter GOP whenever anyone does anything the rich don't like: "The sky is falling!"