Don't Euthanize Me You Socialist Nazi Bastard!

TV News Anchor - "And we're back with our top story of the night. The president has presented a progressive plan that if passed, will be one of the largest government funded projects of all time, 90% of which will come from the federal government. Already there is significant opposition to the president's plan, with several conservative lawmakers declaring it a tremendous waste of taxpayers' dollars. There is also a great deal of public opposition to the plan, with many American citizens also feeling it a waste of tax dollars. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let's hear about the details of President Eisenhower's proposal. We have invited Steven Thompson, the congressman leading the committee in charge of analyzing the proposal, to explain a little of it for us. Steven, welcome to the show."

Steven - "Well, thank you. It's good to be here."

TV News Anchor - "Tell us about the president's controversial plan."

Steven - Basically, what the president would like to do is design and build a network of ultra modern highways spanning the country from north to south, and from coast to coast. The idea was first presented by FDR in 1938, but has only recently begun to gain traction. Now,because these highways would have no traffic lights or sharp curves, and they would be maintained with the highest level of care, they would allow U.S. citizens to travel places with a remarkable efficiency. Not only that, but it would allow them to travel to places that were previously nearly impossible to travel to. The highways will facilitate commerce as goods will be able to move more freely throughout the country. Finally, should we be faced with enemy invasion, every five miles of highway will include at least one mile-long segment without turns so as to act as emergency landing strips."

TV News Anchor - "Well it sounds fascinating. Tell me Steven, why then are there so many Americans who are opposed to this plan?"

Steven - "Well, that's a little complicated, but it can be summarized by noting that we have a small number of interest groups, engineering firms and private contractors mainly, who have a powerful lobbying force. They have been spreading a lot of false propaganda to the general public which has created a lot of unnecessary fear of the interstate plan."

TV News Anchor - "Well, we're going live right now to a group of people in Virginia who are currently protesting this bill's passage. Allen, are you with us?"

Allen - "Yes, I am here outside the town hall in Louisville, Kentucky where there is a group of local residents protesting a meeting called today to discuss the interstate highway bill that is being proposed in congress. I have Jerry Braxton here with me. Jerry, tell me why you all are here today."

Jerry - "Well, we think this whole idea is just a waste of our hard earned tax dollars. I'm a farmer. A simple man with a simple life, and most of these people in these here parts are too. What do we need with high speed roads anyway? How is that going to benefit us?"

TV News Anchor - "Steven, he's got a good point. These roads are something Jerry may never use. What do you say to people who don't want their tax dollars going to something they will not use?"

Steven - "Well, whether Jerry knows it or not, this system of highways will benefit him. They will provide the conduit for vehicles to carry the produce he grows to markets never before available to him. It is actually middle to lower class rural Americans who this system will benefit most. Not only will their goods be able to leave for market, but other goods from all over the country will be able to come to their communities at an affordable cost."

TV News Anchor - "I see, that is a good point. Let's go back to Allen for a moment, as I believe he has someone else with a comment."

Allen - "Yes, I'm here with Roslyn. Roslyn what is your take on President Eisenhower's interstate plan?"

Roslyn - "I think it's socialist."

Allen - "Socialist? How so?"

Roslyn - "This plan will be the most expensive and most invasive undertaking the government has ever done. The railroad companies had to build their own tracks, well I say why don't the automobile manufacturers pay for this? This whole idea came from the Nazis, you know. The Nazis built these same super roads so they could round up the Jews and exterminate them faster. That's why I don't like it and why Eisenhower scares me. He's a socialist and a Nazi."

TV News Anchor - "Steven, those are some pretty strong accusations. How do you defend them?"

Steven - Well, I suppose I'll start with the socialist part? Look, there are areas of the market that the private sector just doesn't cover effectively. Fire Departments are a perfect example. The automobile industry would never be able to afford, execute, or manage this type of infrastructure project effectively or in a manner that is fair to all Americans. This is a progressive plan, and I know it's difficult to see the many ways it will benefit American society, but they're there and they will come. As far as the accusation that this idea came from the Nazis, Roslyn is absolutely correct, except for the part about rounding up the Jews. The Jews were actually transported using the German rail system. The autobahn was built as a means of defense. A way to quickly mobilize troupes in case of emergency invasions. President Eisenhower saw this and was impressed. But it also gave him the means to envision the myriad additional ways this system will make America strong."

TV News Anchor - "Well, that's about all the time we have for today. Thanks for joining us Steven."

This is partially a hypothetical. There was indeed a lot of opposition to the Eisenhower interstate system. However, it wasn't exactly the same as portrayed here in my fictional account.

I write this to show the parallels between this huge undertaking, one that obviously paid and continues to pay dividends to the American society and economy, and the opposition to the current health care debate. Some may argue that the two are different, that health care is completely different than a physical infrastructure project. But I say that just as there are physical infrastructures, so too are there social ones. Education is a great example. A national health care program is just as important as an interstate system. In addition to just an overall better quality of life, healthy citizens ensure higher and more consistant production in the workforce. I think Obama is trying to get this point across, but it's difficult when people are more concerned that the government is going to euthanize them.