I was looking for an appropriate “Night Before Christmas” post and found this instead, a parody I wrote on Christmas Eve in 2009, the very first year of Ethics Alarms, in reaction to the ethically-tainted passage of the “Affordable Care Act,” which didn’t make health care affordable. I knew the bill was smoke and mirrors and that it would not accomplish what it was supposed to do.  I knew that we would be in one mess or another as a result of the ugly thing, supposedly the signature legislation of the Obama Administration…and sad thing is that it probably was. What does that tell you?

I was struck, as you will be, how much of my mordant satire seems relevant today, and how little has changed.

So let’s travel back to that halcyon year, and the day before Christmas…

‘Twas the day before Christmas, and in the U.S.

Senate health care reform proved our ethics a mess.

A party line vote on a bill of such scope?

Where’s integrity? Principle? Competence?

 

Hope?

 

Not a single Republican willing to bend?

Nor a Democrat rejecting means for the end,

Like mass state exemptions, abortion support,

Constitution defiance (bound for Supreme Court),

Or Medicare cuts so the cost can be paid,

Although no one believes that the cuts will be made?

 

Why undertake health care reform; why begin it,

If nobody honestly cares what is in it?

Or knows what is in it, since all will admit

They’ve read the staff summaries, maybe, a bit.

 

It’s all about power; it’s all about spin

“Must “win” for Obama!”

“No! Stick it to him!”

 

And while bill opponents caused panic with lies

About euthanized seniors and fascism’s rise,

The bill’s young supporters offered sex for persuasion,

Harry Reid thought race-baiting would suit the occasion…

 

And the media, its objectivity busted,

Cheered one side or the other, and could not be trusted.

 

It’s not rising health care costs threat’ning this nation

Or who to insure, or how much to ration;

It’s the absence of principle, courage, respect,

And trustworthiness in all those we elect.

But despair not, you ethical women and men!

Let’s try to do better in two-thousand ten!

Staying true to our values will help make things right.

So Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!