To listen to Democrats defend the biggest government power grab in nearly half a century, namely during the House passage of health care reform, youâÄôd have to conclude that theyâÄôre totally ignorant of other prime examples of widespread public opposition to such practices. What I have specifically in mind is the British taxes on tea and stamps prior to the Revolution, another brazen and entirely self-destructive display of colossal arrogance on the part of disconnected politicians far, far away from most Americans. The only difference between what happened then and what is happening now âÄî and I donâÄôt include the consideration of what may happen if the Roberts court gets its noticeably right-of-center, pro-stateâÄôs rights hands on the mandatory personal insurance component âÄî is one merely of degree. Modest increases on the costs of tea and stamps and what the British tried to mandate in those days was, in fact, entirely modest as a percentage of the average colonistâÄôs annual income. In fact, these increases led directly to the loss of BritainâÄôs colonies in America. The Democrats this time face exile too: political exile back to the cheap seats of Congress where it strikes me they obviously belong since theyâÄôre utterly unwilling or incapable of listening to what the people are telling them loudly and clearly about this bill. The current Congress is already on record as the least popular ever. So tell me, Democrats, what do you think our reaction in November is going to be? How much do you think snatching control over one-sixth of our national economy will cost you at the polls? If President Barack Obama thinks heâÄôs having a hard time getting anything done now, I canâÄôt wait to hear what he has to say once the Republicans get Congress back. Mark Overholser, University alumnus