Eugene Robinson: Gridlock's Growing Victims

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http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/02/18/gridlocks_growing_victims_121612.html

Gridlock's Growing Victims

By Eugene Robinson - February 18, 2014


WASHINGTON -- In an election year, there are always winners and losers. Rarely, however, are there so many victims.

Legislative gridlock, which was already bad enough, has devolved into a cynical, poisoned stasis. With a few obvious votes, Congress could improve the lives of millions of people -- the unemployed, the undocumented, the uninsured.

But instead of being helped, those in need are punished for reasons that are nakedly political.

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Also unfairly punished are the millions of uninsured Americans seeking coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Despite the Republican Party's best efforts, Obamacare is working. But it would work better if Congress would cooperate with Obama in making a host of technical adjustments to the program.

This sort of after-the-fact tinkering has been required for every big social program. But Republicans have so demonized Obamacare that collaborating in an effort to make it function more effectively would be, for the far-right base, tantamount to treason.

It's one thing to seek an advantage at the polls. It's another thing to make innocent people suffer for your ambition. Guilty members of Congress -- and I'm specifically including you, Sen. Cruz -- should hang their heads in disgrace.

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