The challenge and often unavoidable problem with making promises, particularly without first doing one’s due diligence and adequate research, is how to bring those promises into fruition — that is, make them come true.
Such is the case now facing Donald Trump and many of his fellow Republicans after demanding that Congress ignore the warnings of non-partisan experts and vote on his “new and improved” health care bill in support of their highly-trumpeted vow to “repeal and replace” — only to suffer a resounding defeat.
So, what’s next? Will Trump and the bearer of bad news, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, continue to sulk, allowing their humiliation and anger to become the fuel for another ill-advised showdown. Will they continue to blame the Democrats, all but powerless for now yet far from silent in the current political realm where the GOP dominates all three branches of government, or maybe point to more conservative Republicans to shoulder the blame for their defeat? Or will they do what we elect politicians to do — and lead?
That is indeed the $10 million question.
Some already predict that Trump will once again shoot from the hip with all guns blazing and without bothering to confer with members of Congress. And while it may soothe his wounds as well as serve as salve for GOP leaders who have been making unfulfilled promises about destroying the Affordable Care, we fear the real losers, if the showdown goes unabated, will be the American public — Democrats, Republicans, Independents and those who don’t even care about voting, political parties or Washington, D.C. — or are too young for any of it to matter.
It’s time to get down to work. Trump and the Republicans must come to grips that for all its shortcomings, Obamacare is working for millions — many of whom did not have health care for his signature legislation. Both parties must work together to shore up the problems that exist within the ACA.
And they must put their pride aside in order to do the “unimaginable act of compromise” so they can guarantee that the elderly, low-income citizens, college students barely able to pay their student loans and who need to be covered under their parents’ health care plans and generations yet unborn will all have the benefit of quality health care.
That’s what will truly “make America great” again.