More Complaining about the US - I'm in the mood

The latest issue of Newsweek (Dec. 28-Jan 4) beautifully encapsulates the bizarro parallel universe of American politics I find myself puzzling today. Time was, I knew what was going on: the “evil” people (about 80% in the Beltway) were in charge, and then there were a few, like Kucinich and, yes, Obama, quietly crying sensible things into the wind. Now, I’m inhabiting a county where “health care reform” means forcing Americans to pay exorbitant amounts of money to private corporations (a plan Reagan Republicans would have joyously rubbed their hands over), and its imminent passage is hailed as a “Democratic victory,” whilst the Republicans rail that the plan is far too liberal???...?

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