As a reminder: This is part 3 of a series based on my recent illness ramblings. Start with #1 for the context.

Note #3: The Differences Dividing Us are Real and We are Approaching a Jumping Off Point

Sometimes one can be overwhelmed by the drivel in our political discourse. Sometimes it is hard to see differences between the parties. With some of the issues coming down the road now, however, the differences are stark and imagining compromise between them is difficult.Honestly, I do not want to see the compromise myself. The main difference goes to the foundation. Will we live in a manner that can continue or are we going to live (individually and as a nation) beyond our means. The two sides of the debate are becoming self-conscious. They know and understand their side of the argument. They know and understand and hate those on the other side. Keith Olbermann and Glenn Beck represent the two sides well. Beck convincingly (with a blackboard and numbers) shows that we are headed toward financial oblivion if we follow our current path. He is right. Olbermann believes that if you are not in favor of fixing healthcare by expanding governments role, you are in favor of death. He is wrong, but something has to change in healthcare. Both of them appear to be buffoons to each other. We are coming toward elections in 2010 and 2012 that might bring this issue into focus. I thought that this was going to happen in 1994 and 1996. One will remember that Clinton lost both House and Senate in 1994. He (catlike) pivoted and went on (with the help of Ross Perot) to win re-election in 1996. Obama faces a similar choice. As the issue comes into focus (Will we take responsibility for our actions or self-consciously make the government a big pick pocket whenever we want what our neighbor has?), I do not believe that Obama will mediate. I think that he will hold to his guns. Thus, the recent reaching back into the healthcare cookie jar. This might destroy the left. It might destroy the country. If the country self-consciously affirms the pick pocketing (which has been going on for a while), it is basically the end of anything like America (land of the free, home of the brave). I think that the future of our nation is on the line in the next 4 years. It could go very badly. But that is not the worst of the news…