Republicans and others who are in anguish over the possibility of socialized medicine ought to have to explain their ideology to a mother with a sick newborn. They ought to have to explain how this nation can debate health care and not mention how abysmal ours is.
Interpretation
The quote critiques those who oppose socialized medicine, urging them to consider the real-life consequences of their ideology.
Richard Cohen highlights the moral obligation to recognize the struggles of individuals, particularly vulnerable populations like mothers with sick newborns, when debating health care policies. He emphasizes the inconsistency and moral failure in discussing health care without confronting the dire realities faced by many, suggesting that ideology must be tempered with empathy for those in need.
In practice
During a political debate, one could use this quote to illustrate the human impact of health care policies.
It takes a willful disregard of history to appreciate how white Southerners could look at the Confederate battle flag and see states' rights or a way of life or a tradition - and not one human being whipping another, which was a common occurrence.
[It is a basic principle of a tyrant] to unarm his people of weapons, money and all means whereby they resist his power.
My view of democratic socialism builds on the success of many other countries around the world that have done a far better job than we have in protecting the needs of their working families, their elderly citizens, the children, the sick and the poor.
I am in politics because of the conflict between good and evil, and I believe that in the end good will triumph.
We still find the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry and grasping at the spoil of the multitude. Invention is continually exercised to furnish new pretenses for revenue and taxation. It watches prosperity as its prey and permits none to escape without a tribute.
The U.S. is the last country that should see itself as an ally of the apartheid system.
America is now the only global superpower, and Eurasia is the globe's central arena. Hence, what happens to the distribution of power on the Eurasian continent will be of decisive importance to America's global primacy and to America's historical legacy.
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