Framing the Dialogue

Comprehensive is defined as:

“So large in scope or content as to include much.”

Synonyms:  complete, broad, wide, full, sweeping, exhaustive, extensive.

What does Wolf Blitzer think:

“I think what we try to do is bring the news to our viewers in a very comprehensive responsible way”  This is CNN?

Can you use it in a sentence?

Politicians often use the word comprehensive when they introduce a piece of legislation when the want the American people to think they are being thoughtful and forward-thinking.  Most citizens who pay attention know that when an elected official uses the word comprehensive to describe a bill, a rule, a policy, etc. that it actually means that it is full of things they do not want you to really know about.   [Okay that is two sentences]

Can you give me an example:

Example 1:  Senator John McCain uttered these words defending comprehensive immigration reform:

“serious, comprehensive and practical attempt to secure our borders, defend the rule of law, help our economy grow and make it possible for the United States to know who has entered this country illegally.” [emphasis added]

In the case of comprehensive immigration reform, the hidden stuff was that they were going to give amnesty to all of the illegal immigrants already in America.  Called a “path to citizenship” it was nothing more than allowing people who broke our laws to remain and benefit as if they are American citizens.  Comprehensive immigration reform enjoy unprecedented UNpopularity with the American public.

Example 2:  President Barack Obama and the Democrat party are pushing hard for comprehensive health care reform.  Both Democrat-controlled House and Democrat-controlled Senate have passed bills.  Even with unstoppable majorities in both houses, President Obama cannot get a deal on comprehensive health care reform.  The “girth” of each bill is around 2,000 pages.  As experts dissected the elements of the bills, the hidden agendas were illuminated.  These comprehensive bills were almost as unpopular as the comprehensive immigration reform.

Sometimes comprehensive is good, even great, sometimes it is bad.  Sometimes simple is better.

How do we fix illegal immigration?  Build the wall (no “virtual walls”) and start deporting them.  Americans understand that it will take time for law enforcement to expell those who broke our laws, but get the party started.  That’s simple.

How do we fix health care?  Betsy McCaughey, one of Framing The Dialogue’s American heroes, has done the work for our bloviators in Washington.  She has written a 20-page bill that is actually quite comprehensive.  It is so simple and practical, that is has no way of passing.