A woman just called, asked for me by name, and began her spiel. John Kerry has introduced the Kids Come First bill to expand health care coverage, and would like me to add my name to the other 600,000 citizens who are “co-sponsoring” it. Before I can say OK, she continues that Sen. Kerry would appreciate it if I would pledge one penny for every thousand (million? hundred?) uninsured kid — 11,000 pennies — to continue the campaign to get one million “co-sponsors.”

I know it’s shameful that a modern, wealthy society has such unequal distribution of health services. I don’t know if Kerry’s bill is the best way to go, but I’m willing to “co-sponsor” it because it’s better than what we currently have. So I agreed to be put down as a supporter. (You expect me to become an expert in health care policy before I back a bill? Not gonna happen.)

But I also know that I am sick to death of bills with emotive names, of marketing-driven twists of language that turn supporters into “co-sponsors,” of ending every political statement by begging for cash, and of John Kerry: When you’re beaten by the worst president in modern history — a man who lied us into a war and was caught at it, a man who is poisoning our kids’ planet — you shouldn’t show your face for a whole lot longer. [Technorati tag: kerry]

Categories: Uncategorized dw