When the feds go marching in

In New Orleans, one of the favorite songs played by jazz bands is, “When the Saints Go Marching In,” and they aren’t just talking football. The tune has been around for decades and was penned in 1896. Louis Armstrong made it famous with a 1938 recording, and it has since been heard around the world, with performances by a variety of musical artists including Pete Fountain, Judy Garland, Pete Seeger, Percy Faith, Elvis Presley and many more. One of the most popular melodies ever recorded, it has stood the test of time.

People like music, and they like to hear good tunes and good news. What almost no one likes to hear is news that is troubling, whether it’s personal or nationally calamitous. Part of the problem with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is that the news that comes out concerning every new HHS bulletin can be seen as either detrimental to the economy or helpful to the general citizenry, based on what side of the political aisle that develops the talking points for the media. Conservatives have their bias, and so do the liberals. The truth is likely somewhere in between.